Gámez
A Spanish surname, usually understood as a patronymic form related to the medieval personal name Gamo or Gama.
The #1,472 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,729 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Gámez is generally treated as a Spanish patronymic surname, formed with the old -ez ending meaning “son of.” In this case, it is usually linked to a medieval personal name such as Gamo or Gama, so the original sense would be “son of Gamo/Gama.” The historical spelling without an accent, Gamez, is common in modern records outside Spain.
History
The surname is found in Spanish-speaking regions and, through migration, in Latin America and the United States. The 19th-century source excerpt groups Gamez with other patronymic surnames, supporting its status as a hereditary family name rather than a place-name. Modern U.S. usage often reflects Hispanic immigration and later spelling simplification.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older Spanish patronymic surnames, the ending -ez usually signals descent, much like -son in English surnames.
From the historical record
“Comizj GiíJ7iiz, Gumez, Gu7íiaz, Gomaze, Gomc- ze, Gu?7iice, Gomizizy Cojnaziz, Gomizonis, Ga- miz ^ Gamez. González. Gundisaho ^ Gundesalvo^ GuntsaU ho y Gundsalboy Gunzalvo , Gondesalho , Gont- ralbOj Gonzaho , Gonzalo , Gozalvo , Gózalo y Gundali'us, GunzalduSy Gonsaldoy Gwidisalvezy”
— Ensayo histórico etimológico filológico sobre los apellidos castellanos