Medina is a common Spanish toponymic surname of Moorish origin. The surname was derived from several cities and towns of Spain such as

Medina del Campo Medina del Campo is a town and municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Part of the Province of Valladolid, it is the centre of a farming area. History Medina del Campo grew in importance thanks to its fairs ...

Medina de Pomar Medina de Pomar is a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. It is situated 77 km from Bilbao, and 88 km from Burgos, the capital of the province, 8 kilometres from Villarcayo and about 20 ...

Medina de Rioseco Medina de Rioseco is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León and Spain. According to a 2011 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 4,967 inhabitants. The city also has th ...

Medinaceli Medinaceli () is a municipality and town in the province of Soria, in Castile and León, Spain. The municipality includes other villages like Torralba del Moral. Etymology Its name derives from the Arabic 'madīnat salīm', which was named afte ...

Medina-Sidonia Medina Sidonia is a city and municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, southern Spain. Considered by some to be the oldest city in Europe, it is used as a military defence location because of its elevation. ...

and

Medina de las Torres Medina de las Torres is a municipality located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. According to the 2005 census (INE INE, Ine or ine may refer to: Institutions * Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, a German nuclear research center * ...

. The use of the term dates back to the Muslim rule of

Al Andalus Al-Andalus translit. ; an, al-Andalus; ast, al-Ándalus; eu, al-Andalus; ber, ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵍⵓⵙ, label= Berber, translit=Andalus; ca, al-Àndalus; gl, al-Andalus; oc, Al Andalús; pt, al-Ândalus; es, al-Ándalus () was the M ...

(8th–15th century) and it originates from the Arabic word madīnah (مَدِيْنَة) which means "city". Christian families from these places took it as a surname during the

Reconquista The ' (Spanish, Portuguese and Galician for "reconquest") is a historiographical construction describing the 781-year period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula between the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 and the fall of the Nasrid ...

and later on. The surname was imported to the

Spanish colonies The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...

by the

conquistadores Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (, ; meaning 'conquerors') were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish Empire, Spanish and Portuguese Empires of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Age of Discovery, conquistadors sailed beyond Europe to ...

. Medina is a common surname among

Moriscos Moriscos (, ; pt, mouriscos ; Spanish for "Moorish") were former Muslims and their descendants whom the Roman Catholic church and the Spanish Crown commanded to convert to Christianity or face compulsory exile after Spain outlawed the open ...

and

Conversos A ''converso'' (; ; feminine form ''conversa''), "convert", () was a Jew who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries, or one of his or her descendants. To safeguard the Old Christian po ...

People

Notable people with the surname include: * Adonis Medina (born 1996), Dominican baseball player *

Alberto Medina Alberto Medina Briseño (born 29 May 1983) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a winger. He is known as ''El Venado'' (The Deer) due to his speed. Club career Medina made his professional debut for Chivas on 8 August 200 ...

Briseño (born 1983), Mexican footballer *

Alexander Medina Alexander Jesús Medina Reobasco (born 8 August 1978) is a Uruguayan Association football, football Manager (association football), manager and former player who played as a Forward (association football)#Striker, striker. He is the current mana ...

Reobasco (born 1978), Uruguayan footballer *

Anabel Medina Garrigues Ana Isabel Medina Garrigues (, ; born 31 July 1982) is a Spanish tennis coach and former professional player. As a player she reached a career-high ranking of world No. 16 in 2020, and won 11 singles and 28 doubles titles, including the 2008 ...

(born 1982), Spanish tennis player *

Ana Medina Ana Medina is Venezuela's ambassador to Poland appointed by the National Assembly during the Venezuelan presidential crisis on 19 March 2019. See also * Juan Guaidó Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez (born 28 July 1983) is a Venezuelan politi ...

, Venezuela's ambassador to Poland appointed by the National Assembly *

Ann Medina Ann Medina is an American Canadian television journalist and documentary producer. Biography Born and raised in New York City, Medina studied philosophy at Wellesley College, Harvard University and the University of Edinburgh before getting ...

, American-born Canadian journalist and documentary producer * Antonio Medina (disambiguation), several people * Antonio César Medina (born 1984), Argentine footballer * Astrid Medina (born 1977), Colombian coffee producer *

Avihu Medina Avihu Medina ( he, אביהו מדינה, born August 19, 1948 in Tel Aviv) is an Israeli composer, arranger, songwriter, and singer of Mediterranean Israeli music. Medina was born in Tel Aviv. He was the third son of Aaron and Leah Medina. His mo ...

(born 1948), Israeli singer-songwriter *

Benny Medina Benny Medina (born January 24, 1958) is an American record executive, talent manager, and television producer. Early life and education Medina was born in East Los Angeles, California, of Dominican parents into a poor family. The death of hi ...

(born 1958), American music producer, talent manager and record executive *

Biel Medina Gabriel 'Biel' Medina Piris (born 22 March 1980 in Mahón, Menorca, Balearic Islands) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whos ...

Piris (born 1980), Spanish footballer * Brian Medina (born 1993), Argentine footballer * Carlos Medina, Venezuelan plastic artist * César Medina Lozado (born 1991), Peruvian footballer * Chris Medina (born 1983), American singer and ''American Idol'' contestant *

Claribel Medina Claribel Medina (born December 16, 1961 in San Juan) is a Puerto Rican actress who has acted for soap operas and movies filmed both in her native Puerto Rico and in Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=n ...

(born 1961), Puerto Rican actress * Cristian Medina (born 2002), Argentine footballer *

Danilo Medina Danilo Medina Sánchez ( : born 10 November 1951) is a Dominican politician who was President of the Dominican Republic from 2012 to 2020. Medina previously served as Chief of Staff to the President of the Dominican Republic from 1996 to 1999 ...

Sánchez (born 1951), Dominican politician and President of the Dominican Republic from 2012 to 2020 * David M. Medina (born 1958), a former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court * Diego Medina (born 1991), Argentine footballer *

Ernest Medina Ernest Lou Medina (August 27, 1936 – May 8, 2018) was a captain of infantry in the United States Army. He served during the Vietnam War. He was the commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry of the 11th Brigade, Americal ...

(1936-2018), US Army captain, commanding officer of the unit responsible for the My Lai Massacre *

Facundo Medina Facundo Axel Medina (born 28 May 1999) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for club Lens and the Argentina national team. Club career Medina's career got underway with a stint with River Plate, who ...

(born 1999), Argentine footballer *

Fernando Medina Fernando Medina Maciel Almeida Correia (born 10 March 1973) is a Portuguese economist and politician Socialist Party (PS) who has been serving as Minister of Finance in the government of Prime Minister António Costa since 2022. He previously ser ...

(born 1973), Spanish fencer * Fernando Medina (politician) (born 1973), Portuguese politician and mayor of Lisbon *

Gabriel Medina Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira (born 22 December 1993) is a Brazilian professional surfer who won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships. With 16 WSL Championship Tour (CT) event wins and 29 Final appearances under his belt, Medina is ...

(born 1993), Brazilian professional surfer * Henrique Medina (1901–1988), Portuguese painter * Hernán Medina (footballer) (born 1974), Argentine retired footballer *

Humberto Medina (dancer) Humberto Medina Pereira is a Cuban dancer. Sometimes called the Guarachero Mayor, he created Guaracheros de Regla in 1959. He and his newly created comparsa performed that year in Regla (June 5, 1959), but the following year they were invited to p ...

, Cuban dancer *

Humberto Medina (footballer) Humberto Medina (5 September 1942 – 24 November 2011) was a Mexican footballer. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ...

(1942–2011), Mexican footballer *

Isaías Medina Angarita Isaías Medina Angarita (6 July 1897 – 15 September 1953) was a Venezuelan military and political leader, the president of Venezuela from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. He followed the path of his predecessor Eleazar López Contreras ...

(1897–1953), Venezuelan soldier and politician, President of Venezuela (1941-1945) *

Iizzwa Medina Iízzwa Iizzalledd Medina Bueso (born July 20, 1982) is a retired Honduran table tennis player. Career She represented Honduras at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and later captured three bronze medals, along with her sister Zzwitjhallim in both sing ...

(born 1982), Honduran table tennis player * Jaume Medina i Casanovas (1949–2023), Catalan philologist, latinist, writer, translator and poet *

John Baptist Medina Sir John Baptist Medina or John Baptiste de Medina (1659 – 5 October 1710) was an artist of Flemish people, Flemish-Spanish origin who worked in England and Scotland, mostly as a portrait painter, though he was also the first illustrator o ...

(1659–1710), artist of Flemish-Spanish origin who worked in England and Scotland *

Jorge Medina (cardinal) Jorge Arturo Agustín Medina Estévez (; 23 December 1926 – 3 October 2021) was a Chilean prelate of the Catholic Church who held senior positions both in his native country and in the Roman Curia. He was prefect of the Congregation for Di ...

(1926–2021), Chilean cardinal of the Catholic Church *

Jorge Medina Jorge Medina Barra (; 24 April 1968 – 23 November 2022) was a Bolivian civil rights activist and politician who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from La Paz, representing its special indigenous circumscription from 2010 to 2015. ...

(1968–2022), Bolivian civil right activist and politician * José Medina (disambiguation), several people * Juan Medina (disambiguation), several people *

Juan Manuel Abal Medina Juan Manuel Abal Medina (born March 1, 1945) is an Argentine journalist and politician who served as Secretary General of the Peronist Movement between 1972 and 1974. He later became a prominent lawyer in Mexico. Early life and entry into polit ...

(born 1945), Argentine journalist and politician * Juan Manuel Abal Medina Jr. (born 1968), Argentine academic and politician *

Julio Medina III Julio Antonio Medina Morales, also known as Julio Medina III (born 14 July 1976) is a retired football midfielder. He currently manages Liga Panameña de Futbol team Chorrillo. Club career Nicknamed ''Puchito'', Medina started his career a ...

(born 1976), Panamanian footballer * Leonardo Medina Gutiérrez (born 1977), Uruguayan footballer *

Lina Medina Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado (; born 23 September 1933) is a Peruvian woman who became the youngest confirmed mother in history when she gave birth on 14 May 1939, aged five years, seven months, and 21 days. Based on the medical assessments o ...

(born 1933), Peruvian woman, youngest mother in recorded history * Luis Medina (disambiguation), several people * Luiz Carlos Medina (born 1990), Brazilian footballer * Maria Medina (disambiguation), several people *

Maxine Medina Maria Mika Maxine Perez Medina (; born May 10, 1990) is a Filipino designer, actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2016. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant and fi ...

, Filipina actress and beauty pageant titleholder * Nery Medina Norales (born 1981), Honduran footballer * Nicolás Medina (born 1982), Argentine footballer * Nicolás Esteban Medina Ríos (born 1987), Chilean footballer *

Ninrrol Medina Ninrol Edgardo Medina Torres (born 26 August 1976) is a Honduran retired football defender. He is current manager of Honduran Segunda Division side Arsenal de Roatán. Club career Medina came through the youth ranks at F.C. Motagua and firs ...

Torres (born 1976), Honduran footballer and football manager *

Ofelia Medina María Ofelia Medina Torres (born 4 March 1950) is a Mexican actress, singer and screenwriter of Mexican films. She was married to film director Alex Philips Jr. and actor Pedro Armendáriz Jr. Biography She was born in Mérida and has four ...

(born 1950), Mexican actress *

Pablo Medina Pablo Medina is a Cuban American poet and novelist, Professor in the Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing at Emerson College and Director of its MFA Program. Biography Medina was born in Havana, Cuba and emigrated to New York Cit ...

(born 1960), Cuban poet *

Pablo Medina Velázquez Pablo Medina Velázquez ( – 16 October 2014) was a Paraguayan investigative journalist for the newspaper ''ABC Color'' in Asunción. Velázquez had been returning from a trip to Curuguaty when he was attacked due to his investigation into ...

( 1961–2014), Paraguayan journalist *

Patricia Medina Patricia Paz Maria Medina (19 July 1919 – 28 April 2012) was a British actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the films ''Phantom of the Rue Morgue'' (1954) and ''Mr. Arkadin'' (1955). Early life Medina was the daughter of Laure ...

(1919–2012), English actress * Paula Medina (born 1989), Colombian table tennis player * Pol Medina, Jr. (born 1960), Filipino comics artist * Rafael Medina Rodríguez (born 1979), Mexican professional footballer *

Rafael Medina (baseball) Rafael Eduardo Medina (born February 15, 1975) is a Panamanian former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 to 1999. He also has played for the Panama national baseball team. Car ...

(born 1975), Panamanian former Major League Baseball pitcher *

Ramón Medina Bello Ramón Ismael Medina Bello (born 29 April 1966 in Gualeguay, Entre Rios), nicknamed ''El Mencho'', is an Argentine former football striker who has played at club level in Argentina and Japan. He began his professional football career in 1986 ...

(born 1966), Argentine retired footballer *

Ricardo Medina, Jr. Ricardo Medina Jr. (often referred to as Rick Medina) is an American former actor. He is best known for his role as Cole Evans, the Red Wild Force Ranger on the TV series ''Power Rangers Wild Force'', and later as Deker, the half-human cursed Ni ...

(born 1979), American actor *

Roberto Medina Roberto Gerardo Medina Arellano (born 18 April 1968) is a Mexican football manager and former player and current manager. He was the head coach of the Mexico women's national football team. Club career Medina began his professional career i ...

(born 1947), Brazilian businessman * Rubem Medina (born 1942), Brazilian politician, economist, and businessman * Salvador Medina Cárcamo (born 1988), Mexican footballer * Salvadora Medina Onrubia (1894-1972), Argentine poet, anarchist, feminist *

Samuel Doria Medina Samuel Doria Medina Auza (born 4 December 1958) is a politician in Bolivia and former business person. From 1987 until 2014 he was the President and main shareholder in SOBOCE. SOBOCE is the largest cement manufacturer in Bolivia. He is the lea ...

(born 1958), Bolivian politician *

Stefan Medina John Stefan Medina Ramírez (born 14 June 1992) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Liga MX club Monterrey and the Colombia national team. Initially, Medina debuted for Atlético Nacional as a centre-back. As time progresse ...

Ramírez (born 1992), Colombian footballer * Tony Medina (José Antonio Medina) (died 2011), Cuban songwriter * Tulia Angela Medina (born 1983), Colombian weightlifter * Vincent Medina (born 1986), Indigenous Ohlone cultural leader * Wilder Medina Tamayo (born 1981), Colombian footballer *

Yoervis Medina Yoervis José Medina (born July 27, 1988) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs. Career Seattle Mariners From 2006 to 2009, Medina played for the VSL M ...

(born 1988), Venezuelan Major League Baseball pitcher * Yojer Medina (born 1973), Venezuelan shot putter and discus thrower