Vásquez is a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

of Galician origin, which later spread all over the

Spanish-speaking world Hispanophone refers to anything related to the Spanish language. In a cultural, rather than merely linguistic sense, the notion of "Hispanophone" goes further than the above definition. The Hispanic culture is the legacy of the vast and prolonge ...

. Alternative spellings of the name include Vázquez or Vasques (particularly in regions with

seseo In Spanish dialectology, the realization of coronal fricatives is one of the most prominent features distinguishing various dialect regions. The main three realizations are the phonemic distinction between and ('), the presence of only alve ...

), and Vasquez or Vazquez (in countries where

Iberian languages There have been many languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula. Historic languages Pre-Roman languages The following languages were spoken in the Iberian Peninsula before the Roman occupation and the spread of the Latin language. * Aquit ...

are not commonly spoken).

Overview

To a lesser extent it also occurs in Portuguese-speaking countries (spelled Vasques), where Vasco is also used as a surname. Vasquez means " onof Vasco", and Vasco comes from the pre-Roman

latinized name Latinisation (or Latinization) of names, also known as onomastic Latinisation (or onomastic Latinization), is the practice of rendering a ''non''-Latin name in a modern Latin style. It is commonly found with historical proper names, including p ...

"Velascus", a name of uncertain origin and meaning, but probably

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

Iberian Iberian refers to Iberia. Most commonly Iberian refers to: *Someone or something originating in the Iberian Peninsula, namely from Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. The term ''Iberian'' is also used to refer to anything pertaining to the fo ...

. In Galician-Portuguese the pre-Roman name becomes Velascu > Veascu > Vaasco > Vasco. In some Spanish-speaking countries, families of non-Iberian ancestry have also adopted this surname. In Colombia and Argentina, there have been instances of "Watzke" and "Watzka" families, of German-Czech descent, Hispanicizing their surnames to "Vasquez". The surname was chosen as being the one most closely resembling their former name; in Italy a similar phenomenon was noted with some "Watzke" changing to "Vasco". There are also Spanish cognate surnames Velasco and Velázquez/Velazquez.Ferreiro, M. ''Gramática Histórica Galega'', p. 84,

List of people with this surname

Vasquez or Vásquez

Andrés Vasquez Andrés Javier Vasquez Rueda Pinto (born 16 July 1987) (often misspelled Vasques) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Club career After playing for local clubs, he joined IFK Göteborg in 1997, the club he ...

(born 1987), Peruvian-born Swedish football midfielder *

Andrew Vasquez Andrew Jacob Vasquez is a Native American flute player of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. He has released four albums to date, ''Vasquez'', the award-winning ''Wind River'', ''V3: An American Indian'', and ''Togo'', all released by Makoché Records ...

, Native American flute player *

Andrew Vasquez (baseball) Andrew Jude Vasquez (born September 14, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francis ...

(born 1993), American baseball player * Angélica Delfina Vásquez Cruz (born 1958), Mexican potter *

Anthony Vasquez Anthony Russell Vasquez (born September 19, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners. Career Vasquez attended Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, ...

, baseball player *

Auristela Vásquez Auristela Vásquez is a Venezuelan politician and alternate deputy of the National Assembly for the Capital District. She is currently in exile in Spain. Career Auristela was elected as alternate deputy for the National Assembly for Circuit 2 ...

, Venezuelan politician *

Camille Vasquez Camille Vasquez (born July 6, 1984) is an American attorney known for representing actor Johnny Depp in the defamation case that he brought against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Early life and education Vasquez was born in San Francisco, California ...

(born 1984), American lawyer known for representing Johnny Depp in the Depp vs Heard civil case * Catalina Vasquez Villalpando (born 1940), treasurer of the United States * Chalena Vásquez (1950–2016), Peruvian ethnomusicologist and folklorist *

Christian Vasquez Christian Oliver B. Vazquez (born February 8, 1977) is a Filipino actor, model and a former housemate of ABS-CBN's '' Pinoy Big Brother: Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition''. During his stint at Pinoy Big Brother, he was one of the comed ...

(born 1977), Filipino actor and model *

Christian Vásquez Christian Vásquez (born 1984, Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan conductor and violinist. Biography Vásquez began to study violin at age 9, after being accepted to the ''El Sistema'' program in Venezuela, and he played in the ''Sinfónica Inf ...

(born 1984), Venezuelan conductor and violinist *

Domingo Vásquez Domingo Vásquez (August 3, 1846 – December 11, 1909) was President of Honduras 7 August 1893 – 22 February 1894. He lost power as a result of Honduras being defeated in a war with Nicaragua and was replaced by Policarpo Bonilla. References ...

(1846–1909), president of Honduras 1893–1894 *

Eric Vasquez Eric Vasquez (born November 18, 1982, in Miami, Florida) is an American soccer player, who last played as a midfielder for Miami FC. Vasquez played college soccer at the University of Central Florida from 2001 to 2003. He was twice named to th ...

(born 1982), American soccer player *

Fabio Vásquez Castaño Fabio Vásquez Castaño (1940 – 10 December 2019) was a Colombian rebel and revolutionary who was trained by Fidel Castro regime during the 1960s. He was born in Calarcá, Quindío, and was one of the original founders of the Colombian guerrilla ...

(1940–2019), Colombian rebel and revolutionary *

Fernando Vásquez Fernando Iván Vásquez Arnez (born 24 May 1962) is a Bolivian geotechnical and mining engineer and politician who served as minister of mining and metallurgy from 8 May to 30 May 2020. He previously served as vice minister of productive d ...

(born 1962), Bolivian mining engineer *

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''. Meaning of the name Francisco In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed " Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comm ...

(1510–1554), Spanish conquistador *

Gabe Vasquez Gabriel Vasquez (born August 3, 1984) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Las Cruces City Council fro ...

, New Mexico politician *

Gabriel Vásquez Gabriel Vásquez (1549 or 1551 in Belmonte, Cuenca – 23 September 1604 in Alcalá de Henares), known as Bellomontanus, was a Spanish Jesuit theologian and scholastic philosopher. Vásquez was the foremost academic rival of his fellow Jesuit ...

(1549–1604), Spanish Jesuit theologian *

Gaddi Vasquez Gaddi Holguin Vasquez (born January 22, 1955) was the 8th United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, in Rome, Italy. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States ...

(born 1955), 8th United States Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization *

Greivis Vásquez Greivis Josué Vásquez Rodríguez (born January 16, 1987) is a Venezuelan former professional basketball player, who spent six seasons in the NBA. He is currently a coach, most recently working as the associate head coach for the Birmingham Squa ...

(born 1987), Venezuelan basketball player *

Horacio Vásquez Felipe Horacio Vásquez Lajara (October 22, 1860 – March 25, 1936) was a Dominican Republic military general and political figure who was President of the Dominican Republic from 1924 to 1930. He was part of the conspiracy to assassinate Domi ...

(1860–1936), Dominican general and political figure *

Jhonen Vasquez Jhonen C. Vasquez (; born September 1, 1974) is an American cartoonist, animator, and voice actor. He is best known for creating the '' Johnny the Homicidal Maniac'' comic book series (alongside its spin-offs '' Squee!'', '' I Feel Sick'', and '' ...

(born 1974), Californian cartoonist * Jorge Vásquez (born 1978), major league baseball pitcher *

Joseph Vásquez Joseph B. "Joe" Vasquez (June 8, 1962 – December 16, 1995) was an American independent filmmaker. Early life Vasquez was born in the South Bronx on June 8, 1962 to his parents, Dolores and Fermin Vasquez.Kennedy, Dana (February 9, 1996)R ...

(1962–1995), American independent filmmaker *

Juan Vásquez (composer) Juan Vásquez (or ''Vázquez'', c. 1500, Badajoz - c. 1560, Seville) was a Spanish priest and composer of the renaissance music, Renaissance. He can be considered part of the ''School of Andalusia'' group of composers along with Francisco Guerrero ...

, Spanish priest and composer of the renaissance *

Juanes Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born 9 August 1972), known professionally as Juanes, is a Colombian musician who was a member of the Rock music, rock band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. Since releasing his solo debut album ''Fíjate B ...

(born 1972), full name Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (Vásquez is his second, or matrilineal, last name), Colombian rock musician *

Julio César Vásquez Julio César Vásquez (born July 13, 1965) is an Argentine retired professional boxer best known to have held a WBA junior middleweight title. Amateur record Vasquez had an amateur record of 33-2. Professional career Vasquez, known as "El Zur ...

(born 1965), Argentine boxer in the super middleweight division *

Junior Vasquez Junior Vasquez (born Donald Gregory Mattern; August 24, 1949) is an American DJ, record producer and remixer. He has been referred to as one of the only DJs of his time to gain international attention. Career Mattern moved to New York City a ...

(born 1949), New York City club DJ and remixer/producer *

Louis Vásquez Pierre Louis Vasquez also known as Luis Vázquez (October 3, 1798 – September 5, 1868) was a mountain man and trader. He was a contemporary of many famous European-American explorers of the early west and would come to know many of them, i ...

(1798–1868), mountain man and trader from Missouri *

Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón Lucas or LUCAS may refer to: People * Lucas (surname) * Lucas (given name) Arts and entertainment * Luca Family Singers, or the Lucas, a 19th-century African-American singing group * Lucas, a 1960s Swedish pop group formed by Janne Lucas Perss ...

(c. 1480–1526), Spanish explorer *

Luis Vásquez (footballer) Luis Erney Vásquez (born 1 March 1996) is a Colombian professional footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American ...

(born 1996), Colombian football goalkeeper *

Luis Vasquez (American football) Luis Guillermo Vasquez (born April 23, 1986) is a former American football defensive lineman. He played college football at Arizona State University. College career Vasquez signed to play with the Purdue Boilermakers football team in 2004, wher ...

(born 1986), American football player *

Martín Vásquez Martín Vásquez Gómez (born December 24, 1963) is an American former professional Association football, soccer player. The first of five players to have played for both the United States men's national soccer team, United States and Mexico ...

(born 1963), Mexican soccer player, also played for US team * Mona Vasquez (1960–2011), French critic of Scientology *

Orlando Vásquez (weightlifter, born 1969) Orlando Antonio Vásquez Mendoza (born March 13, 1969) is a retired male weightlifter from Nicaragua. He competed in two Summer Olympics for his native Central American country during his career, and twice (1991 and 1995) claimed a bronze medal ...

, Nicaraguan weightlifter * Randy Vasquez (born 1961), American actor * Rafael Vásquez (disambiguation), multiple people * Roberta Vasquez (born 1963), Cuban-American model, actress and Playboy playmate * Roberto Vásquez (born 1983), southpaw boxer in the flyweight division * Sam Vasquez (1972–2007), American MMA fighter *

Sofronio Vasquez Sofronio Parojinog Vasquez III (born November 8, 1992) is a Filipino pop singer based in the United States. He is the winner of The Voice (American TV series) season 26, season 26 of the American talent competition ''The Voice (American TV series ...

(born 1992), Filipino singer and champion of the season 26 of ''The Voice USA'' *

Tiburcio Vásquez Tiburcio Vásquez (April 11, 1835 – March 19, 1875) was a Californio Outlaw, ''bandido'' who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, north of Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are n ...

(1835–1875), Mexican bandit * Walter Vásquez Vejarano (born 1932), Peruvian lawyer, politician and President of the Supreme Court

Vázquez or Vazquez

* Adrián Vázquez Lázara (born 1982), Spanish politician * Adrián Vázquez Núñez (born 2004), Spanish footballer * Andrés Vázquez (1932–2022), Spanish bullfighter *

Angie Vázquez Ángela Vázquez Espinoza (born January 17, 2001) is a Mexican singer. She is best known for being the lead vocalist of the pop trio Vázquez Sounds. Career Vázquez first gained notoriety at the age of 10 years old. After her band, the V ...

(born 2001), Mexican singer * Christian Vázquez (born 1990), Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher *

Christian Vázquez (actor) Christian Vázquez (born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) is a Mexican actor; best known in his native country for his multiple roles in Mexican films. Vázquez studied performing arts at the University of Guadalajara. He started working as a wa ...

, Mexican actor *

Cristian Vázquez Cristian Matías Vázquez (born 11 November 1998) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Miami FC. Career Vázquez's career got underway in Primera B Metropolitana with Deportivo Español. He made his professiona ...

(born 1998), Argentine professional footballer *

Dolors Vázquez Aznar María Dolors Vázquez Aznar (15 March 1955 – 22 February 2014) was a Spanish realist painter and lawyer. Biography Dolors Vázquez Aznar was born with cerebral palsy. She later experienced polio, which affected mobility in her arms, facial mus ...

(1955–2014), Spanish painter *

Felipe Vázquez Felipe Javier Vázquez ( Rivero, born July 5, 1991) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for Marineros de Carabobo of the Venezuelan Major League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2015 to 2019 for the Washington Nationals a ...

(born 1991), Venezuelan baseball player * Fernando Vázquez (born 1954), Spanish football manager * Fran Vázquez (born 1983), Spanish basketball player *

Franco Vázquez Franco Damián Vázquez (; born 22 February 1989) is an Argentine professional Association football, footballer who plays as an Midfielder#Attacking midfielder, attacking midfielder for club US Cremonese, Cremonese. Beginning his career with Ar ...

(born 1989), Italo-Argentine footballer * Guillermo Vázquez (disambiguation), multiple people *

Hugo Vázquez Hugo Vázquez (born 2 March 1968) is an Uruguayan former basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary ...

(born 1968), Uruguayan basketball player *

Ignacio Vázquez (footballer, born 1971) Ignacio Vázquez Barba (born July 31, 1971) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a forward. Career Vázquez made his league debut with Chivas in the 1991–92 season.MedioTiempo"Ignacio Vázquez - Veracruz". Retrieved on ...

, Mexican football (soccer) player *

Israel Vázquez Israel Vázquez Castañeda (December 25, 1977 – December 3, 2024) was a Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2010. He was a three-time super bantamweight world champion, having held the International Boxing Federation, IBF tit ...

(1977–2024), Mexican boxer * Javier Vázquez (born 1976), Puerto Rican-American baseball pitcher *

Jorge Vázquez (baseball) Jorge Alberto Vázquez (born March 15, 1982), nicknamed El Chato, is a Mexican former professional baseball first baseman. Vázquez played in the Mexican League (baseball), Mexican League from 1999 through 2008, and played in the minor league ...

(born 1982), New York Yankees minor league first baseman *

Jorge Vázquez Viaña Jorge Vázquez Viaña (born 2 January 1939 in La Paz; Bolivia, presumed dead, May 1967; Nickname: ''El Loro'' or ''Bigotes'') was a Bolivian revolutionary. He was part of the intellectual revolutionary guerrilla group of Che Guevara. Biography ...

(1939–1967), Bolivian revolutionary * Juan T. Vázquez Martín (1940–2017), Cuban abstract painter *

La La (entertainer) Alani Nicole "La La" Anthony (née Vázquez; 19791982) is an American television personality and actress. In the early 2000s, she worked as an MTV VJ on ''Total Request Live''. She was the host of the VH1 reality television reunion shows ''Fl ...

(born 1979), Puerto Rican MTV VJ * Lucas Vázquez (born 1991), Spanish footballer *

Manuel Vázquez Gallego Manuel Vázquez Gallego (1930 in Madrid – 1995 in Barcelona), was a Spanish cartoonist. He was one of the most important artists of Editorial Bruguera. His family were friends with comedians Wenceslao Fernández Flórez and Enrique Jardiel ...

(1930–1995), Spanish comic artist and writer *

Manuel Vázquez Montalbán Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (14 June 1939–18 October 2003) was a prolific Spanish writer from Barcelona: journalist, novelist, poet, essayist, anthologue, prologist, humorist, critic and political prisoner as well as a gastronome and an ...

(1939–2003), Spanish writer *

Mario Vazquez Mario Adrián Vázquez (born June 15, 1977) is an American singer from The Bronx, New York City. He competed on American Idol's fourth season, which aired on the FOX network in early 2005. Biography Early life Raised by his single mother, A ...

(born 1977), New York Puerto Rican singer, from ''American Idol'' *

Myrna Vázquez Myrna Vázquez (1935-1975) was a Puerto Rican screen, stage, radio, and television actress. She later became an influential community activist in Boston's South End. Early life and career She was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico, in 1935, one of se ...

(1935–1975), Puerto Rican actress and Boston community activist *

Olegario Vázquez Raña Olegario Vázquez Raña (10 December 1935 – 28 March 2025) was a Mexican businessman who was the owner of several companies and the chairman and principal shareholder of Grupo Empresarial Ángeles. Sports career Vázquez Raña was a member o ...

(1935–2025), Mexican sports shooter and entrepreneur * Pepe Luis Vázquez Garcés (1921–2013), Spanish bullfighter *

Pepe Luis Vázquez Silva José Luis Vázquez Silva (; 9 June 1957 – 26 July 2024), better known as Pepe Luis Vázquez (), the same name that his father had used professionally, was a Spanish bullfighter, the youngest in a bullfighting "dynasty" in Seville that stret ...

(1957–2024), Spanish bullfighter *

Rafael Martín Vázquez Rafael Martín Vázquez (born 25 September 1965) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mostly as an attacking midfielder. He represented most notably Real Madrid, having two different spells and amassing La Liga totals of 252 ...

(born 1965), Spanish footballer *

Ramón Vázquez Ramón Luis Vázquez (born August 21, 1976) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball coach and a former infielder. He is currently the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Vázquez played in MLB for the Seattle Mar ...

(born 1976), Puerto Rican baseball player and coach *

Sebastián Vázquez (basketball) Sebastián "El Pelado" Vázquez Bernal (born September 4, 1985) is an Uruguayan professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Club Nacional de Football (basketball) club of the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball. He represented Uruguay's na ...

(born 1985), Uruguayan basketball player *

Tabaré Vázquez Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas (; 17 January 19406 December 2020) was a Uruguayan politician and oncologist who served as the 39th and 41st President of Uruguay from 2005 to 2010 and from 2015 to 2020. During his political career, Vázquez was a ...

(1940–2020), President of Uruguay * Victor Vazquez (born 1983), better known as Kool A.D., American musician and artist *

Víctor Vázquez (artist) Víctor Vázquez is a photographer and a contemporary conceptual artist born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Víctor Vázquez has been working as an artist for more than 20 years, creating photographs, three-dimensional objects, videos and installation ...

, Puerto Rican photographer and conceptual artist *

Víctor Vázquez Rosales Víctor is a Spanish masculine given name, equivalent to Victor in English and Vítor in Portuguese. Notable people with the given name include: * Víctor Barrio (1987–2016), Spanish bullfighter * Víctor Cabrera (Argentine footballer) * Vícto ...

(born 1989), Spanish footballer *

Víctor Vázquez Solsona Víctor is a Spanish masculine given name, equivalent to Victor (name), Victor in English and Vítor in Portuguese. Notable people with the given name include: *Víctor Barrio (1987–2016), Spanish ...

(born 1987), Spanish footballer *

Wanda Vázquez Wanda is a female given name of Polish origin. It probably derives from the tribal name of the Wends.Campbell, Mike"Meaning, Origin, and History of the Name Wanda" ''Behind the Name.'' Retrieved August 12, 2010. The name has long been popular in P ...

, Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice, politician and Governor of Puerto Rico

Fictional characters

* Vasquez, a supporting character from the film ''

Aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, a lifeform with ext ...

'' * Alexandra "Alex" Vasquez, one of the three main characters of the animated television series ''

Totally Spies! ''Totally Spies!'' is a French anime-influenced animated spy-fi series created by Vincent Chalvon-Demersay and David Michel mainly produced by French company Zodiak Kids & Family France, with seasons three to five being co-produced with Cana ...

'' * Esmeralda "Ezzy" Vasquez, a character from the video game '' Real Heroes: Firefighter'' * Jonah Vasquez, a character from the video game ''

Dead by Daylight ''Dead by Daylight'' is an online asymmetric multiplayer survival horror video game developed and published by Canadian studio Behaviour Interactive. It is a one-versus-four game in which one player takes on the role of a Killer and the other f ...

'' * Jared Vasquez, an NYPD officer, detective and lieutenant from

Manifest (TV series) ''Manifest'' is an American supernatural drama television series created by Jeff Rake that premiered on September 24, 2018, on NBC. It centers on the passengers and crew of a commercial airliner who suddenly reappear after being presumed dea ...

References

{{surname Galician-language surnames Spanish-language surnames Patronymic surnames Surnames from given names Surnames of Honduran origin Surnames of Salvadoran origin Surnames of Guatemalan origin Surnames of Puerto Rican origin