Moya

Etymology

Moya is a Spanish surname that is usually explained as a habitational name, taken from a place called Moya. The place-name itself is commonly linked to an old Romance word meaning a hill, mound, or elevated spur, though the exact local history can vary by region. In many surname cases like this, the family name simply meant 'someone from Moya' or 'someone who came from that place.'

History

The surname is well established in Spain and later spread widely through the Spanish-speaking world. It is also found in the Americas through colonial-era migration and later movement within Hispanic communities. The excerpts provided do not include a true dictionary etymology for the surname itself, only incidental mentions of people named Moya.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

Moya is common enough in Spanish naming that it often appears both as a standalone surname and in older forms with a locative 'de' before it.