Lanza
A surname from the Spanish word for a spear or lance, likely first used as a nickname or occupational name.
The #5,923 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,058 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lanza is the Spanish word for a lance or spear, ultimately from Latin "lancea," meaning a light spear. As a surname, it likely began as a nickname for someone associated with a lance—such as a soldier, fighter, or perhaps a maker or bearer of weapons. In some cases, surnames from weapon names can also be descriptive, referring to a person’s role or manner rather than a direct occupation.
History
The name is well attested in Spanish surname lists, especially in Iberian contexts. It also appears in Italian usage as a surname, where the same word and imagery are shared across Romance languages. In modern times it is found in Spain, Latin America, and among diasporic families elsewhere.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Spanish word "lanza" is the same everyday word used for a lance or spear, so the surname is one of many family names that come straight from medieval martial vocabulary.
From the historical record
“Astero En la milicia romana el soldado que peleaba con asta o lanza. Astil. Margo. Cabo por donde se toma un instrumento. Astros. Cuerpos luminosos del cielo, como sol, luna, es- trella. Se toma a veces por signos celest«s. La persona de”
— Diccionario de los apellidos