Orozco

Orozco is a Spanish-language surname of Basque origin. It is a toponymic name derived from the Basque place Orozko, from which the Spanish form Orozco developed. The surname spread to the Americas during Spanish colonization and is now common in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, where numerous families bearing the name have settled.

Notable bearers include José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949), a prominent Mexican muralist and a leading figure of the Mexican muralism movement. His public works, including large-scale murals in Mexico and abroad, are recognized for their social and political themes and dynamic, expressive style. Another important figure is Manuel Orozco y Berra, a Mexican geographer and writer who contributed to national reference works, including authoritative geographic and statistical dictionaries of Mexico.

Beyond individuals, Orozco appears in place names, institutions, and family lineages across the Spanish-speaking world, reflecting the name’s historical spread and local adaptation. The surname remains widely used today and embodies a historical link to Basque and broader Spanish heritage, with variations in spelling and pronunciation that have occurred as families migrated and integrated into different regions.

For related terms, see also the Basque form Orozko, which refers to the original place in the Basque Country, and note that Orozco may be encountered in different countries as both a surname and, occasionally, a toponym in local contexts.