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The meaning of the surname Torres refers precisely to the plural noun “torres”, with which fortified buildings that are taller than they are wide are named. The surname Torres is of Spanish origin and is one of the most common surnames in Hispanic countries.
Meaning
Torres is a toponymic surname, that is, it refers to a person’s place of origin. In this case, it was probably someone who lived in or near a tower, or places called that. For example, in Spain and Latin America there are also numerous places that bear the name of Torre or Torres.
The word “tower” comes from the Latin term turris , and this, in turn, from the Greek tyrris , which means tower, castle or fortified city.
Origin of the surname Torres
The surname Torres arose in Spain around the 11th century. However, the exact place of its origin is unknown. Some versions suggest that he appeared first in the royal house of Navarra, and others that in Castile.
The first records of the Torres surname dating back to the 11th century in Aragon, where the brothers Íñigo and Martín Torres lived, who worked for one of the noble families of the kingdom.
There are also data from other families of this surname that lived in Soria and were descendants of the French Constable Beltrán de Claquin.
Some versions suggest that the surname Torres could also have a Sephardic origin, since it was frequent among the converted Jews who stayed in Spain after the Catholic Monarchs ordered their expulsion. Supposedly, this surname evoked Mount Zion. One of the first converted conquistadors to take the Torres surname was Antonio de Torres, brother of Juana de Torres, a friend of Queen Isabella. Another was Luis de Torres, who converted to Judaism before leaving on the expeditions of Christopher Columbus.
In the following centuries, this surname spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and the Americas. There are also data from several noble families that had this surname and lived in different Spanish regions.
Currently, the Torres surname is very common in southern Spain and in most Latin American countries, mainly in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Ecuador.
Fun facts
Some of the most curious facts about the Torres surname are:
- It ranks 150th among the most popular surnames in the world.
- It is the 11th most common surname in Spain.
- It is the 50th most common surname in the United States.
- Mexico is the country with the largest number of people with the surname Torres, since there are more than 1 million people with this surname.
- It is the 3rd most popular surname in Puerto Rico, the 8th in Ecuador, the 9th in Andorra, the 12th in Peru and Colombia, the 13th in Cuba and Argentina, and the 17th in Mexico and Chile.
- It can appear with the following variants: Tores, Torrez, Torez, Torre, De la Torre.
- It is also part of compound surnames such as: Latorre, Torradella, Torralbò, Torrebadell and Torrella.
Celebrities with the last name Torres
Among the famous people with the last name Torres, the following stand out:
- Tomás de Torres: 16th century Portuguese astrologer.
- Luis Váez de Torres: 17th century explorer.
- Diego Torres: Argentine singer.
- Abraham Torres: Venezuelan boxer.
- Antonio Torres Jurado: Spanish guitarist.
- Bartolomé de Torres Naharro: Spanish poet and playwright of the 16th century.
- Fernando Torres: Spanish soccer player.
- Xavier «Xavi» Torres Buigues: Spanish soccer player.
- Sergio Torres: Argentine singer.
- Juan José Torres: former Bolivian president.
- Dayanara Torres Delgado: Puerto Rican actress.
- Eugenio Torres Villareal: Mexican wrestler and rapper.
- Nestor Torres: Puerto Rican musician.
- Héctor Juan Samuel “Tico” Torres: Cuban-American drummer.
Genealogy and resources
Family history is an important element of a person’s history. To learn more about Torres ancestors, you can use the following online genealogy resources:
- FamilySearch: is a free database of more than 5 million historical records and family trees.
- GeneaNet is a website that includes archival records, forums, family trees, and other resources for people with the last name Torres.
Bibliography
- Elián, JS Great book of surnames and heraldry. (2006). Spain. Victor.
- Faure, R.; Ribes, MA (2001). Dictionary of Spanish surnames. Spain. Espasa Books.
Schnieper Campos, J.; Rosado Martin, F. Spanish surnames. Heraldry . (2001). Brand Editorial.
