Jiménez

Etymology

Jiménez is a Spanish patronymic surname, formed with the old Spanish suffix -ez, meaning “son of.” It most likely means “son of Jimeno,” from the medieval given name Jimeno, which is of uncertain older origin and is sometimes linked to a Basque personal name tradition. The surname therefore began as a family designation based on a father’s name rather than a place or occupation.

History

Jiménez has been in use for centuries in Spain and later spread widely through the Spanish-speaking world. It became especially common in parts of Spain and, through migration and colonial-era movement, throughout Latin America and in Hispanic communities elsewhere. The accent mark is standard in Spanish spelling, though it is often omitted in English-language records.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

The ending -ez is shared by many classic Spanish surnames, including González, Rodríguez, and Hernández, all originally patronymics.