Alonso is a Spanish name of
Germanic origin that is a Castilian variant of ''Adalfuns''.
The original
Visigothic
The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied barbarian military group united under the comman ...
name
''Alfonso'' suffered the
phonetic change
In historical linguistics, a sound change is a change in the pronunciation of a language. A sound change can involve the replacement of one speech sound (or, more generally, one phonetic feature value) by a different one (called phonetic chang ...
of the phoneme /f/ into the mute /h/ in the
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages (historiography), Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th to the 10th century. They marked the start o ...
(around 9th Century),
what eventually suppressed the sound /f/ from the name, deriving in the modern form ''Alonso''. Due to the demographic particularities of the
Iberian peninsula during the Middle Ages, this phonetic change was not uniform across the territory and the original form ''Alfonso'' also survived in different areas. Therefore, today both forms of the name coexist in Spanish speaking countries.
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 36.6% of all known bearers of the surname ''Alonso'' were residents of
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
(frequency 1:222), 26.1% of
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
(1:832), 8.3% of
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
(1:242), 7.0% of
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
(1:1,061), 4.8% of
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
(1:7,502), 4.5% of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
(1:14,083), 2.5% of
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
(1:3,318), 1.7% of
Paraguay
Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...
(1:736), 1.3% of
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
(1:9,082) and 1.1% of
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
(1:549).
In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than average (1:222) in the following regions:
[Alonso surname distribution](_blank)
/ref>
* 1. Asturias
Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...
(1:69)
* 2. Castile and León
Castile and León is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwestern Spain. Castile and León is the largest autonomous community in Spain by area, covering 94,222 km2. It is, however, sparsely populated, with a pop ...
(1:73)
* 3. Cantabria
Cantabria (, ; ) is an autonomous community and Provinces of Spain, province in northern Spain with Santander, Cantabria, Santander as its capital city. It is called a , a Nationalities and regions of Spain, historic community, in its current ...
(1:96)
* 4. Galicia (1:125)
* 5. Basque Country (1:145)
* 6. La Rioja
La Rioja () is an autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community and provinces of Spain, province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other List of municipalities in La Rioja, cities and towns in the ...
(1:149)
* 7. Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
(1:159)
* 8. Community of Madrid
The Community of Madrid (; ) is one of the seventeen autonomous communities and 50 provinces of Spain, provinces of Spain. It is located at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula and Meseta Central, Central Plateau (); its capital and largest munici ...
(1:171)
First name
* Alonso (footballer)
Alonso Ferreira de Matos (born 11 August 1980 in Montes Claros), simply known as Alonso is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left back for Villa Nova Atlético Clube.
He signed with Marítimo for the Portuguese outfit from rivals C. ...
(Alonso Ferreira de Matos) (born 1980), Brazilian footballer
* Alonso Álvarez de Pineda
Alonso Álvarez de Pineda (; 1494–1520) was a Spanish conquistador and cartography, cartographer who was the first to prove the insularity of the Gulf of Mexico by sailing around its coast. In doing so he created the first map to depict what i ...
(1494–1520), Spanish explorer and cartographer
* Alonso de Ercilla
Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga (7 August 153329 November 1594) was a Spanish soldier and poet, born in Madrid. While in Chile (1556–63) he fought against the Araucanians (Mapuche), and there he began the epic poem '' La Araucana'', considered one ...
(1533–1594), Spanish soldier and poet
* Alonso de Ojeda
Alonso de Ojeda (; c. 1466 – c. 1515) was a Spanish explorer, governor and conquistador. He is famous for having named Venezuela, which he explored during his first two expeditions, for having been the first European to visit Guyana, Curaçao ...
(1466-1515), Spanish explorer, governor and conquistador
* Alonso de Solís
Alonso de Solís (? - 1576) was a soldier and explorer who served as governor of Florida between April and July 4, 1576, when he was killed.Turner Bushnell, Amy (1994)Situado and Sabana: Spain support system for the Presidio and Mission Provinces ...
, Spanish explorer and governor of Florida in 1576
* Alonso del Castillo Maldonado
Alonso del Castillo Maldonado (died after 1547) was an early Spanish explorer in the Americas. He was one of the last four survivors of the original members of the 1527 Narváez expedition, along with Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Andrés Dorant ...
, Spanish explorer of the 16th century
* Alonso Fernández Álvarez (born 1982), Costa Rican male model
* Alonso Fernández de Lugo
Alonso Fernández de Lugo (; died 1525) was a Spanish conquistador, city founder, and administrator. He conquered the islands of La Palma (1492–1493) and Tenerife (1494–1496) for the Castilian Crown; they were the last of the Canary Islan ...
(1450s–1525), Spanish conquistador
* Alonso López (disambiguation), several people
* Alonso Manrique de Lara (1476–1538), Spanish cardinal
* Alonso Mudarra (1510–1580), Spanish composer and vihuelist
* Alonso Pérez ( 1881–1914), Spanish painter
* Alonso Solís (born 1978), Costa Rican footballer
* Alonzo Wilcox (1810–1878), American politician
* Martín Alonso Pinzón (1441–1493), Spanish navigator
* Alonso Quixano, the fictitious hero of ''Don Quixote
, the full title being ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'', is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, the novel is considered a founding work of Western literature and is of ...
''
* Alonso, King of Naples, fictitious character in Shakespeare's ''The Tempest
''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...
''
Surname
* Alejandro Alonso (musician) (1952–2022), Latin-American musician
* Alejandro Alonso (footballer) (born 1982), Argentine football player
* Alfredo Alonso, Cuban media executive
* Alicia Alonso (1920–2019), Cuban ballerina and choreographer
* América Alonso (1936–2022), Venezuelan actress
* Ana Garbín Alonso (1915–1977), Spanish anarchist militiawoman
* LaSirena69 (Antonella Alonso) (born 1990), Venezuelan pornographic actress
* Armando Alonso (born 1984), Costa Rican footballer
* Axel Alonso, American comic book creator best known as the former Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
* Braulio Alonso
Braulio Alonso (December 16, 1916 – June 5, 2010) was an American high school and junior high school teacher and principal. He served as the first Hispanic president of the National Education Association.National Education Association"NEA - Answe ...
(1916–2010), American educator
* Carlos Alonso (born 1971), Canadian Musician
* Clara Alonso (model) (born 1987), Spanish model
* Constanza Alonso (born 1986), Argentine politician
* Dámaso Alonso (1898–1990), Spanish poet, philologist and literary critic
* David Alonso (born 2006), Colombian motorcycle racer
* Daniella Alonso (born 1978), American actress
* Diego Alonso (born 1975), Uruguayan footballer
* Edu Alonso (born 1974), Spanish footballer
* Ernesto Alonso (1917–2007), Mexican film director and producer
* Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso Díaz (; born 29 July 1981) is a Spanish racing driver who competes in Formula One for Aston Martin in Formula One, Aston Martin. Alonso has won two Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which he won in and with ...
(born 1981), Spanish racing driver
* Fernando Alonso (dancer) (1914–2013), Cuban ballet dancer
* Francisco Alonso (1887–1948), Spanish composer
* Iván Alonso (born 1979), Uruguayan footballer
* Jessica Alonso Bernardo (born 1983), Spanish handball player
* José Alonso (hurdler) (born 1957), Spanish hurdler
* José Alonso (actor) (born 1947), Mexican actor
* José Alonso (trade unionist) (1917–1970), Argentine trade-unionist
* José María Alonso (1890–1979), Spanish tennis player
* José Antonio Alonso
José Antonio Alonso Suárez (28 March 1960 – 2 February 2017) was a Spanish judge and politician, member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). He was member of the Spanish Cabinet from 2004 to 2008.
Born in León, Spain, León, he w ...
(1960–2017), Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) politician
* José Ángel (footballer, born March 1989) (José Ángel Alonso) (born 1989), Spanish footballer
* Juan Alonso (footballer, born 1927) (1927–1994), Spanish footballer
* Julián Alonso (born 1977), Spanish tennis player
* Júnior Alonso (born 1993), Paraguayan football player
* Kiko Alonso (born 1990), American football linebacker
* Laura Alonso (soprano), Spanish operatic soprano
* Laura Alonso (politician), Argentine politician
* Laz Alonso (born 1974), American actor
* Lisandro Alonso
Lisandro Alonso (born 2 June 1975) is an Argentine film director and screenwriter. He has directed six feature-length films and a short film since 2001 and is loosely associated with the ''New Argentine Cinema'' movement. His film '' La libertad ...
(born 1975), Argentine filmmaker
* Lula (footballer, born 1922) (Luís Alonso Pérez) (1922–1972), Brazilian football manager
* Manuel A. Alonso Pacheco
Dr. Manuel Antonio Alonso Pacheco (October 6, 1822 – November 4, 1889) was a Puerto Rican writer, poet, journalist and physician. He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance.
Early years
Alonso was born in Sa ...
(1822–1889), Puerto Rican writer
* Marquitos (footballer, born 1933) (Marcos Alonso Imaz) (1933–2012), Spanish footballer
* Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1959) (Marcos Alonso Peña) (1959–2023), Spanish footballer
* Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1990)
Marcos Alonso Mendoza (born 28 December 1990) is a Spanish professional Association football, footballer who plays either as a left-back or centre-back for La Liga club RC Celta de Vigo, Celta de Vigo.
He started his career at Real Madrid CF, R ...
(Marcos Alonso Mendoza) (born 1990), Spanish footballer
* María Conchita Alonso (born 1957), Cuban singer and actress
* María Rosa Alonso (1909–2011), Spanish professor, philologist, essayist
*
* Periko Alonso (Miguel Ángel Alonso), Spanish former football midfielder and manager
* Mikel Alonso
Mikel Alonso Olano (, ; born 17 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder.
He spent most of his career at Real Sociedad, making 110 appearances and scoring four goals over seven seas ...
(born 1980), Spanish footballer
* Mónica Alonso (born 1998), Spanish rhythmic gymnast
* Noel Alonso (born 1987), Spanish footballer
* Norberto Alonso
Norberto Osvaldo "Beto" Alonso (born 4 January 1953) is a former Argentine Association football, football midfielder who spent most of his career at Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate, where he won 9 titles. He remains one of their most not ...
(born 1953), Argentine footballer
* Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso Moreno (born November 11, 1985) is a Cuban former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He defected from Cuba in 2007 and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. During his decade-long career with Seattle Sounders ...
(born 1985), Cuban footballer
* Pete Alonso (born 1994), American baseball player
* Pichi Alonso (born 1954), Spanish footballer
* Rafael Salazar Alonso (1895–1936), Spanish politician, lawyer, and newspaper mogul, served as mayor of Madrid
* Tomás N. Alonso (1881–1962), Filipino writer
* Victoria Alonso
Victoria Alonso (born 22 December 1965) is an Argentine film producer who formerly served as the president of physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation at Marvel Studios.
Early life and education
Victoria Alonso was born on ...
(born 1965), Argentine film producer
* William Alonso (1933–1999), Argentine-American economist
* Xabi Alonso
Xabier Alonso Olano (, ; born 25 November 1981) is a Spanish professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who is the head coach of La Liga club Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid. He is regarded as o ...
(born 1981), Spanish footballer
* Yonder Alonso (born 1987), Cuban baseball player
See also
*
* Alonso (disambiguation)
* Alonzo
Alonzo is both a given name and a Spanish language, Spanish surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
*Alonzo de Barcena, 16th-century Spanish Jesuit missionary and linguist
*Alonzo de Santa Cruz (–1567), Spanish cartographer, ...
, a given name and surname
* Alfonso
Alphons (Latinized ''Alphonsus'', ''Adelphonsus'', or ''Adefonsus'') is a male given name recorded from the 8th century (Alfonso I of Asturias, r. 739–757) in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. I ...
, a male given name
References
{{given name, type=both
Spanish masculine given names
Masculine given names
Spanish-language surnames
Surnames of Spanish origin