Díaz is a common surname of

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

origin with multiple meanings in multiple languages. First found in the Kingdom of Castile, where the name originated in the

Visigoth 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 ...

period, the name accounts for about 0.17% of the Spanish population, ranking as the 14th-most frequently found surname in both 1999 and 2004.

Variants and related names

There is minor evidence that Díez may be equivalent to Díaz, in the form of

Spanish language Spanish () or Castilian () is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family that evolved from the Vulgar Latin spoken on the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Today, it is a world language, gl ...

listing of most frequent surnames in 1999 Spain. However, a 2008 in-press academic manuscript about Spanish naming in 2004 suggests otherwise, listing statistics for "Díaz" and "Díez" separately. The surname is a cognate with the

Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom� ...

surname ''Dias''.

Usage

''Díaz'' and the anglicized form ''Diaz'' appear to be surnames only, without evidence for use as given names. Use of ''Diaz'' may arise through

Anglicization Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English languag ...

of Portuguese language '' Dias''. Many examples of the surnames ''Díaz'' exist among historically notable people as a

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, b ...

of Diego. Among the earliest such examples is

El Cid Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar ( – 10 July 1099) was a Castilian knight and ruler in medieval Spain. Fighting both with Christian and Muslim armies during his lifetime, he earned the Arabic honorific ("the Lord" or "the Master"), which would evolve i ...

, whose real name was ''Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar'', and whose father's given name was ''Diego''.1913 ''

Catholic Encyclopedia ''The'' ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'', also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedi ...

Geographical distribution

As of 2014, 21.5% of all known bearers of the surname ''Díaz'' were residents of Mexico (frequency 1:132), 11.4% of Colombia (1:96), 9.1% of Argentina (1:108), 8.0% of Spain (1:134), 7.2% of Venezuela (1:96), 6.7% of the United States (1:1,242), 5.2% of Peru (1:142), 5.0% of Cuba (1:53), 4.6% of Chile (1:87), 3.1% of the Philippines (1:742), 2.9% of the Dominican Republic (1:83), 2.5% of Puerto Rico (1:33), 2.4% of Guatemala (1:155), 2.0% of Honduras (1:100), 1.4% of El Salvador (1:107), 1.3% of Nicaragua (1:103), 1.2% of Ecuador (1:293) and 1.0% of Paraguay (1:161). In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than the national average (1:134) in the following autonomous communities: * 1.

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 ...

(1:53) * 2.

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 ...

(1:54) * 3.

Extremadura Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...

(1:85) * 4.

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 ...

(1:89) * 5. Castilla-La Mancha (1:97) * 6. Galicia (1:112) * 7.

Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...

(1:114) * 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 ...

(1:121) In

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

, the frequency of the surname was higher than the national average (1:33) in the following municipalities:Díaz surname distribution
/ref> * 1. Manatí (1:14) * 2. Peñuelas (1:16) * 3.

Arecibo Arecibo (; ) is a Arecibo barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, located north of Utuado, Puerto Rico, Utuado and Ciales, Puerto Rico, Ciale ...

(1:16) * 4. Morovis (1:16) * 5. Yauco (1:17) * 6. Barceloneta (1:17) * 7. Guayanilla (1:17) * 8.

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

(1:17) * 9. Ponce (1:19) * 10. Hatillo (1:19) * 11. Isabela (1:19) * 12. Utuado (1:20) * 13. Cabo Rojo (1:20) * 14. Ciales (1:21) * 15.

Lares Lares ( , ; archaic , singular ) were Tutelary deity#Ancient Rome, guardian deities in ancient Roman religion. Their origin is uncertain; they may have been hero-ancestors, guardians of the hearth, fields, boundaries, or fruitfulness, or an ama ...

(1:21) * 16. Naranjito (1:21) * 17. Camuy (1:22) * 18. Quebradillas (1:22) * 19. Rincón (1:22) * 20. Canóvanas (1:22) * 21.

Aguadilla Aguadilla (, ), founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city and municipality located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is s ...

(1:23) * 22.

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...

(1:23) * 23. Loíza (1:24) * 24. Juana Díaz (1:25) * 25. Río Grande (1:25) * 26. Trujillo Alto (1:28) The following matrix contains available information on the frequency of this surname in various countries across a span of years. Reference codes, see #References: (a)=OcioTotal 1999, (b)=Mateos & Tucker 2008, (c)=Longley, ''et al.'', (d)=United States Census Bureau 1995, (e)=United States Census Bureau 2000

Notable people

Arts and entertainment

Alirio Díaz __NOTOC__ Alirio Díaz (12 November 19235 July 2016) was a Venezuelan classical guitarist and composer, considered one of the most prominent composer-guitarists of South America and an eminent musician. He studied with Andrés Segovia, and gav ...

(1923–2016), Venezuelan guitarist * Álvaro Díaz González (born 1972), Chilean screenwriter, producer and director * Alyssa Diaz (born 1985), American-Colombian actress * Ana Diaz (Swedish singer) * Ana Díaz (Mexican singer) (born 1972) * Andres Rafael Diaz Rosa (born 1976), Spanish/Norwegian rapper "Diaz" *

Cameron Diaz Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress. Prolific in both comedy and drama, Cameron Diaz filmography, her films have grossed over $3 billion in the U.S. box-office. Her output of romantic comedies in the late 1990s a ...

(born 1972), American actress, producer, and former fashion model * Carla Diaz, Brazilian actress * Carla Díaz, Spanish actress and dancer * Carolina del Castillo Díaz (1867–1933), Spanish painter * César Díaz (guitarist) (1951–2002), Puerto Rican guitar amplifier technician and guitarist * Dilia Díaz Cisneros (1925–2017), Venezuelan teacher and poet *

Diomedes Díaz Diomedes Díaz Maestre (26 May 1957 – 22 December 2013) was a Colombian vallenato singer, songwriter, and composer. He has been named the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Vallenato" and is nicknamed ''El Cacique de La Junta'' ( ...

(1957–2013), Colombian singer, singer, songwriter and composer * Elisa Ruiz Díaz (1964–2021), Paraguayan diplomat *

Francine Diaz Francine Carrel Saenz Diaz ( born January 27, 2004) is a Filipino actress and singer. She began her career at age 10, playing minor and supporting roles in a number of television programs as young versions of the lead characters. She rose to p ...

(born 2004), Filipina actress and model * Gloria Diaz (born 1951), Filipina actress, TV host and beauty queen, first Filipina to win Miss Universe * Gregoria Díaz (1964-2023), Venezuelan journalist. * Hernan Diaz (born 1973), writer and academic * Joey Diaz (born 1963), Cuban-American stand-up comedian, actor, podcast host * Johnny Diaz, American novelist and a journalist * Joko Diaz, Filipino actor and action star * Jonny Diaz (born 1984), American contemporary Christian musician * José Manuel Díaz (1936–2013), Venezuelan actor and comedian in television and film known by the mononym Joselo * José María Díaz (1813–1888), Spanish romanticist playwright and journalist * Julio Díaz (disambiguation), several people *

Junot Díaz Junot Díaz ( ; born December 31, 1968) is a Dominican American writer, creative writing professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a former fiction editor at '' Boston Review''. Central to Díaz's work is the immigrant experience ...

(born 1986), American writer *

Lav Diaz Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. He is frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, and has made several of the longest narrative films on reco ...

or Lavrente Indico Diaz (born 1958), Filipino independent filmmaker * Leandro Díaz (composer) (1928–2013), Colombian composer * Mariano Díaz (born 1929), Venezuelan photographer * Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña (1807–1876), French painter of the Barbizon school * Paquito Diaz (1937–2011), Filipino actor and director; father of Joko Diaz * Patrocinio Díaz (1905-1969), Argentine singer and actress * Priscilla Diaz (MISSPSTAR/P-Star) (born 1994), American rapper, singer and actress * Rafael Díaz Ycaza (1925–2013), Ecuadorian poet and writer * (1903–1968), Venezuelan writer * Robert Alan Diaz (1975–2015), American rapper better known as "Pumpkinhead" *

Rocsi Diaz Raquel Roxanne "Rocsi" Diaz (born November 17, 1981, also known simply as Rocsi) is a Honduran-born American television host, radio personality, model and actress. She is best known from her time spent as a co-host on BET’s music video countdo ...

(born 1983), Honduran-born, American television personality and model * Romy Diaz (1941–2005), Filipino actor * Roxana Díaz (born 1972), Venezuelan television actress *

Simón Díaz Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez (August 8, 1928 – February 19, 2014), also known as tío Simón, was a Venezuelan singer, actor, TV host, comedian, and Grammy Award-winning composer of Music of Venezuela, Venezuelan music. Some of his most popula ...

(1928–2014), Venezuelan singer and composer * Sixto Diaz Rodriguez (1942–2023), Mexican-American singer-songwriter * Ulpiano Díaz (1900–1990), Cuban percussionist * Waldo Díaz-Balart (1931–2025), Cuban-born painter and sculptor * Zadi Diaz, American podcaster and video blogger

Politics and military

* Adam Perez Diaz (1909–2010), the first Hispanic elected to the Phoenix City Council in Arizona and also the first Hispanic to serve as Phoenix's Vice-Mayor * Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (1929–2006), Catalan (Spain) physician and politician *

Armando Diaz Armando Diaz, 1st Duke della Vittoria, (5 December 1861 – 28 February 1928) was an Italian general and a Marshal of Italy. He is mostly known for his role as Chief of Staff of the Regio Esercito during World War I from November 1917. He ...

(1861–1928), Italian General and a Marshal of Italy during World War I (1914-1918) * Domingo Díaz Arosemena (1875–1949), Panamanian politician, president from 1948 to 1949 * Edwige Diaz (born 1987), French politician * Elimar Díaz (born 1989), Venezuelan politician * Héctor A. Díaz, American politician in Connecticut * Joaquín Díaz de Vivar (1907 – 2002), Argentine lawyer and politician, also a descendant of El Cid (Rodrigo de Diaz Vivar, 1043-1099) * José Díaz, (1895-1942), Spanish Communist and trade unionist, involved in the Spanish Civil War. 1936-1939 * José E. Díaz (1833–1867), Paraguayan general, hero of the Paraguayan War * Pedro Díaz de Vivar (1740–1820), Royal Spanish soldier and official, also a descendant of El Cid (Rodrigo de Diaz Vivar, 1043-1099) *

Porfirio Díaz José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915) was a General (Mexico), Mexican general and politician who was the dictator of Mexico from 1876 until Mexican Revolution, his overthrow in 1911 seizing power in a Plan ...

(1830–1915), Mexican soldier, politician, dictator who served seven terms as President of Mexico in late 19th and early 20th century, following the Imperial French (by Emperor Napoleon III) intervention in Mexico with Emperor Maximilian, 1863-1866 * Ramón Díaz (1926–2017), Uruguayan lawyer, economist and journalist, Chairman of the Central Bank * Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1043–1099), better known as El Cid, or Rodrigo, Castilian (Spain ) nobleman and military leader in medieval Spain

Sports

* Aledmys Díaz (born 1990), Cuban professional baseball player, who also played for four franchises / teams in the American Major Leagues * Alexis Díaz (baseball) (born 1996), Puerto Rican professional baseball player, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds of the National League in Major League Baseball in the United States * Ana Díaz (born 1954), Cuban volleyball player * Andrés Díaz (Chilean footballer) (born 1995) * Andrés Díaz (Argentine footballer) (born 1983) *

Andrés Manuel Díaz Andres or Andrés may refer to: * Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US * Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France *Andres (name) Andres or Andrés is a male given name. It can also be a ...

, Spanish runner (born 1969) * Antonio Díaz Jurado (1969–2013), Spanish footballer *

Brahim Díaz Brahim Abdelkader Díaz (; born 3 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for La Liga club Real Madrid. Born in Spain, he plays for the Morocco national team. Early life Brahim was born in Spa ...

(born 1999), Spanish footballer * Cata Díaz, Argentine footballer and manager * David Díaz (boxer), (born 1976) *

David Díaz (basketball) David Díaz (born 6 September 1964) is a Venezuelan former basketball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Díaz played collegiately for Houston Cougars men's basketball, Houston.Diomar Díaz (born 1990), Venezuelan footballer * Edwin Díaz (born 1994), Puerto Rican and American professional baseball player, formerly with the Seattle Mariners of the American League in Major League Baseball, currently with the franchise / team of the New York Mets in the National League * Elías Díaz (born 1990), Venezuelan baseball player *

Hernán Díaz Hernán Edgardo Díaz (born February 26, 1965) is an Argentine retired football right back. During his club career he played for Rosario Central, Los Andes, River Plate and Colón de Santa Fe. Early career Díaz started his career in the ...

, Argentine footballer (born 1965) * Hidilyn Diaz (born 1991), Filipino weightlifter and Olympic Champion * Horacio Díaz Luco (1943–2025), Chilean footballer * Hugo Díaz, multiple people *

Isidoro Díaz Isidoro Díaz Mejía (born 14 February 1938) is a Mexican former professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. Club career Isidoro Díaz played most of his club career for C.D. Guadalajara, Guadalajara, where he won ...

(born 1938), Mexican footballer * Jhonathan Díaz (born 1996), Venezuelan baseball player * Joaquin Carlos Diaz (1948–2015), Cuban chess master * Jordan Díaz (baseball) (born 2000), Colombian baseball player * Joselo Díaz (born 1980), Dominican and former American professional Major League Baseball player (pitcher) with several franchises / teams plus Minor League Baseball, later with Nippon (Japanese) professional baseball team *

Juan Díaz Sánchez Juan Díaz Sánchez (6 October 1948 – 3 April 2013), commonly known as Juanito, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward. Career Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Juanito started and finished his 11-year professional c ...

(1948–2013), Spanish footballer known as Juanito * Lewin Díaz (born 1996), Dominican baseball player * Linus Diaz (born 1933), Sri Lankan long-distance runner * Luis Díaz (disambiguation), several people * Matt Diaz (born 1978), American professional Major League baseball player with five successive franchises / teams and later sportscaster / commentator * Miguel Díaz (baseball) (born 1994), Dominican baseball player * Nate Diaz (born 1985), American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter *

Nick Diaz Nicholas Robert Diaz (born August 2, 1983) is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Diaz is a former Strikeforce, WEC and ...

(born 1983), American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter *

Patricia Díaz Perea Patricia Díaz Perea is a Spanish professional triathlete. She was declared "Best Individual Sports Woman 2009" by the ''Consejo Superior de Deportes'', she is one of Spain's ''High Performance Athletes'' (DAN: ''Deportistas de Alto Nivel),'' an ...

(born 1984), Spanish professional triathlete * Raquel Diaz (born 1990), ring name of American professional wrestler and burlesque dancer Shaul Guerrero * Rubén Toribio Díaz (born 1952), Peruvian footballer * Salvador Diaz (born 1933), Venezuelan chess master * Tony Diaz (born 1977), Dominican baseball coach * Víctor Díaz (basketball) (born 1968), Venezuelan basketball player * Yainer Díaz (born 1998), Dominican baseball player * Yandy Díaz (born 1991), Cuban professional baseball player * Yennsy Díaz (born 1996), Dominican Republic professional baseball player * Yofrec Diaz (born 1999), Venezuelan baseball player * Yunior Díaz (born 1987), Cuban athlete * Yusniel Díaz (born 1996), Cuban baseball player

Others

* Antonio Díaz (disambiguation), several people *

Bartolomeu Dias Bartolomeu Dias ( – 29 May 1500) was a Portuguese mariner and explorer. In 1488, he became the first European navigator to round the Cape Agulhas, southern tip of Africa and to demonstrate that the most effective southward route for ships lies ...

(c. 1451–1500), first European known to have sailed around the Southern tip of Africa *

Bernal Díaz del Castillo Bernal Díaz del Castillo ( 1492 – 3 February 1584) was a Spanish conquistador who participated as a soldier in the conquest of the Aztec Empire under Hernán Cortés and late in his life wrote an account of the events. As an experienced ...

(1492 to 1496, precise birth date is uncertain–1584), Spanish conquistador * California Odha Zertuche Díaz (1923–1991), Mexican civil engineer, first woman to graduate from the UNAM School of Engineering * Elva Díaz, American neuroscientist, at the University of California at Davis * Federico Díaz Legórburu (1915-2002), Venezuelan scouting leader *

Franklin Chang-Díaz Franklin Ramon Chang-Díaz (born April 5, 1950, San José, Costa Rica) is a Costa Rican-American Mechanical engineering, mechanical engineer, physicist, and former NASA astronaut. He is the sole founder and CEO of Ad Astra Rocket Company as wel ...

(born 1950), former NASA astronaut from Costa Rica * Matthew Diaz (born 1965), American military lawyer, formerly with the Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Navy, later involved with controversial long-term prisoners / defendants held at Guantanamo naval base in Cuba * Miguel H. Díaz (born 1963), American diplomat, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican City) of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome, Italy * Virgilio Morales Díaz, one of the last National Chief Scouts of Cuban scouting up to c. 1961 when Scouting in communist Cuba was terminated

Fictional characters

* Marco Diaz, a character in the animated series ''Star vs. the Forces of Evil'' * Miguel Diaz, one of the main characters of in the Netflix series ''Cobra Kai'' * Rosa Diaz, a main character in the television series ''

Brooklyn Nine-Nine ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' is an American police procedural sitcom television series that aired on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox, and later on NBC, from September 17, 2013, to September 16, 2021, for eight seasons and 153 episodes. Created by Dan G ...

'' * Sean Diaz and Daniel Diaz, characters in the video game '' Life Is Strange 2''

References

* * * ''

'' (1913). s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/El Cid. Retrieved on 2008-05-02. * * * * * * *

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

(9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 2008-04-04. *

External links

* A history of the ''Díaz'' surname compiled by the Institute for Genealogy and History for Latin America is available for a fee. See pages 38 and 39 of https://books.google.com/books?id=xxcSboo5KTAC for more information. {{Authority control Spanish-language surnames Surnames of Sephardic origin Surnames of Spanish origin Patronymic surnames Surnames from given names Surnames of Colombian origin Surnames of Puerto Rican origin