Villegas

Villegas is a surname of Spanish origin and a common toponym in the Spanish-speaking world. As a surname, Villegas is typically toponymic, indicating that an ancestor originated from a place named Villegas. The precise origin can vary among families, but the form is characteristic of surnames formed from villages or estates.

Geographic distribution: The name is widely found in Spain and across Latin America, a consequence of centuries of Spanish settlement and migration. It appears in civil registers, historical documents, and genealogical records in many countries.

Toponymy and namesakes: In addition to personal names, Villegas is used for several municipalities and localities. The toponym conveys historic ties to a locale named Villegas, reflecting the common practice of using place-names as surnames.

Notable people: People bearing the surname Villegas have been prominent in politics, sports, arts, and science, among other fields, across Spanish-speaking regions. The surname also appears as part of institutional and geographic names in various contexts.

Variants: In some regions, related forms or accents may appear in spelling, reflecting local linguistic practices. Villegas thus functions both as a family name and as a geographic marker in several countries.