Moreno Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Moreno Surname Name Meaning, Origin, History, & Etymology
This is a Spanish, Portuguese, Sephardic Jewish last name that developed as a nickname for a person who had dark hair or had a dark/swarthy complexion, derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word moreno, meaning “dark haired”, possibly from the Late Latin word maurinus, itself derived from the classical Latin word Maurus, meaning Moor (Muslim inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, the Maghreg, and some islands in southern Europe during the Middle Ages). Spelling variants of this name, or names with similar origins/etymologies, include Morino, Morena, Moren, and Moore. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this surname was Francisca Ruiz Marian, who was christened at Chiclana, Cadiz, Spain in 1545 AD. The name first established itself in the Kingdom of Castile, a powerful state located on the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Spain) during the Middle Ages that existed between 1065-1230 AD, and existed as the County of Castile beginning in the 800s AD.

Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Moreno ranks 170^th in popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following four states: Arizona, Texas, California, and Nevada. Moreno ranks in the top 100 names in each of these states.

In Spain, the name ranks 15^th. In Portugal, it ranks 367^th. The surname Moreno frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the Latin and South America: Mexico (27^th), Panama (9^th), Colombia (15^th), Venezuela (19^th), Argentina (33^rd), Nicaragua (43^rd), Ecuador (48^th), Cuba (49^th), Peru (68^th), Chile (70^th), Bolivia (77^th), Uruguay (77^th), and El Salvador (81^st).

Moreno Family Tree & Moreno Genealogy

Some bearers of this surname during the time of the Middle Ages to the early modern period include:
1) Capitán Luis Moreno de Monrroy (born between 1594-1654 AD)
2) Francisco Quintana Moreno de Trujillo (born in 1714 at Santa Cruz de la Cañada, Provincia de Nuevo Mexico)
3) José Joaquín Moreno (born c. 1745 at Mier, Mexico)
4) Luis Moreno de Monrroy Guerrero Villaseca (born between 1620-1678)
5) Alonso Moreno de Lara (born in 1615 at Tacubaya, Mexico)
6) Pedro Moreno (born in 1640 at Albunuelas, Granda, Spain, married Francisca Escobar)
7) Nicolás Moreno de Trujillo (born in 1652 in Mexico City)

Some marriages involving the Moreno last name include:
1) Joseph Moreno to Catalina Sanchez at San Nicholas de Bari, Valladoid, Spain in 1666.
2) Andres Moreno to Alfonsa Quintero at at San Nicholas de Bari, Valladoid, Spain in 1600.
3) Juan Moreno to Isabel Gallegos at Penafiel, Santa Maria, Valladoid, Spain in 1602.
4) Antonia Moreno to Mateo Mariano Garses at Yhualapa, Mexico in 1804.
5) Jose Guillermo Moreno to Maria Leonor Olivares in Inmaculada Concepcion, Mexico in 1799
6) Manoel Moreno to Maria Rodrigues in Santo Andre, Estremoz, Evora, Portgual in 1640
7) Frank A. Moreno (born in Mexico City) married Anna Gauthier at Hancock, Houghton, MI in 1913
8) Tirso Moreno married Maria Almanza in Hays, Texas in 1909
9) Jesus Moreno married Andrea Escobeda in Bexar, Texas in 1916
10) Selutina Moreno married Pedro Villegas in Comal, Texas in 1895.

Nicolas Moreno was born in 1730. He married Gertrudis Medina and had a son with her. This son, Jose Ignacio Moreno, was born in Fustes, Villanueva, Nueva Galacia (Zacatecas, Mexico) in 1760. He married Maria Ines Carrillo and had a son with her named Facundo. Facundo Moreno was born in Jalisco, Mexico in around 1803. In 1829, he married Maria Pioquinta de Leon, and had a son with her named Jose. Jose Julian Moreno was born in Rancho de las Huertas, Huejucar, Jalisco, Mexico in 1844. In 1869, he married Maria Encarnacion Torres and had a son with her. This son, Perfecto Moreno, was born in Liebres, Jalisco, Mexico in 1880. He married Juanita Mejia and had two sons with her: Nicholas and William. One of the sons, Nicholas Mejia Moreno, was born in Los Angeles California in 1912. He married Guadalupe (Gomez) Perez and had a son with her named Frank. This son, Frank R. Moreno, was born in the 1930s. He had a daughter named Raquel Moreno who was born in the 1960s.

Early American and New World Settlers
Two of the earliest known settlers in the New World bearing this surname were Alonso Moreno and Francisco Moreno, who came in 1511 and 1513, respectively. In 1534, Juan Moreno and his nephew, Francisco, came to New Spain (later became Mexico). In 1552, Pedro Moreno went to Colombia.

Several thousand members of the Moreno family came to the United States through Ellis Island, during the nineteenth century, including:
1) Vinzenzo Moreno came from Italy in 1889 aboard the Wieland
2) Olea Moreno came from Spain in 1866 aboard the Spain
3) Celina Moreno came from Havana in 1867 aboard the St. Laurent
4) Guiseppe Moreno came from Italy in 1871 aboard the Virginia
5) John E. Moreno came from Mexico in 1872 aboard the City of Merida
6) Vicente Moreno came from Colombia in 1837 aboard the Marcelino
7) Pedro Moreno came from Spain in 1854 aboard the Putnam
8) Emilio Moreno came from Cuba in 1869 aboard the Missouri
9) Jaureguy Moreno came from Paris, France in 1903 aboard the La Savoie
10) Gabriel Moreno came from Spain in 1877 aboard the City of Merida

Notables
There are hundreds of notable people with the Moreno surname. This page will mention a handful. Famous people with this last name include: 1) Miguel Moreno (1596-1655) who was a Spanish poet and writer during the Golden Age, 2) Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982) who was a Spanish composer and conductor from Madrid known for his contributions to the classical guitar repertoire, 3) Bonaventure Moreno who was a rear admiral in the Spanish Navy who, in 1791, blocked the British occupied island of Menorca and took part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar, 4) Julio Enrique Moreno (1878-1952) who was the acting President of Ecuador in 1926, 5) Lenin Boltaire Moreno Garces (1953) who became the 44^th President of Ecuador starting in 2017, having previously served as the Vice President from 2007-2013, 6) Helena Nancy Moreno (1977) who became the Vice President of the New Orleans City Council in 2018, having previously served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 93^rd district, born in Veracruz, Mexico, 7) Francisco Pascasio Moreno (1852-1919) who was an explorer and academic from Buenos Aires, Argentina, considered to be an influential figure in the nation’s incorporation of parts of Patagonia, 8) Denise Moreno Ducheny (1952) who was a California State Senator for Senate District 40, born in Los Angeles, CA, 9) Aurabela “Belita” Moreno (1949) who was an American actress best known for her roles on sitcoms such as George Lopez and Perfect Strangers, born in Dallas, TX, and 10) Francisco Moreno Domagoso (1974) who was a Filipino politician and actor born in Tondo, Manila, who served on the Manila City Council from 1998 to 2007, and as the Vice Mayor of Manila from 2007-2016.

Moreno America Civil War Veterans
There were at least 63 soldiers with the last name Moreno who served in the American Civil War:
1) Benino Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 2^nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry
2) Theodore Moreno fought for the Confederacy as part of the CSA Engineers
3) Jose Moreno fought for the Union as part of the Independent Partisan Rangers, Texas Cavalry
4) Andres Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 1^st Battalion, Arizona Infantry
5) Inrinco Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 1^st Battalion, Arizona Infantry
6) Jose Maria Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 39^th Regiment New York Infantry
7) Yves Moreno fought for the Confederacy as part of the 27^th Regiment Louisiana Infantry
8) Antonio Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 1^st Battalion California Native Cavalry
9) Pio Moreno fought for the Union as part of the 1^st Battalion California Native Cavalry
10) Juan Moreno fought for the Union as part of Graydon’s Independent Company, New Mexico Mounted Volunteers.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Royaume de Galice – De gueules à une tour d’or ouverte et ajourée d’azur sommée de trois tourelles du second celle du milieu plus élevée. English: Gules with a tower or doorways and openings azure surmounted by three turrets of the second that of the middle more raised.
2) Tolède – De gueules à une tour d’or ouverte du champ sommée d’une aigle de sable tenant de sa patte dextre une couronne d’or. English: Gules with a tower or doorways of the field surmounted by an eagle sable holding in its paws dexter a crown or.
3) Brabant – De gueules à une tour d’or ouverte et ajourée du champ sommée de trois tourelles du second celle du milieu plus élevée. English: Gules with a tower or doorways and openings of the field surmounted by three turret of the second that of the middle raised higher.
4) Cuenca – Parti au 1 de gueules à une tour d’or ouverte du champ et ajourée d’azur sommée de trois tourelles du second celle du milieu plus élevée (Carrillo) au 2 d’or à la bande de sinople (Albornoz). English: Per pale 1st gules with a tower or open of the field and openings azure surmounted by three turrets of the second that of the middle raised higher 2nd or a bend vert.
5) Carrillo Y Albornoz – Castille, Andalousie – D’argent à la croix de gueules cantonnée de quatre paons d’azur. English: Argent a cross gules having in each quarter one of four peacocks azure.