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Origin of the Surname Pérez-Moreno
The compound surname Pérez-Moreno presents a geographical distribution that, to a large extent, reveals its probable origin in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain. The most significant incidence of the surname in this country, with a 68% presence today, suggests that its main root is found in Spanish territory. Furthermore, the presence in Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Puerto Rico, with minor incidences, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname spread from Spain to America during the colonization and migration processes that took place from the 16th centuries onwards. The dispersion in European countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom, although to a lesser extent, could be due to later migratory movements, especially in modern times. The current distribution, therefore, indicates that the surname probably has its origin in the Iberian Peninsula, with a significant expansion in the Spanish-American world, a result of migratory flows associated with colonization, the economy and cultural relations between these countries.
Etymology and Meaning of Pérez-Moreno
The compound surname Pérez-Moreno combines two elements that, analyzed together, allow us to infer its structure and possible etymological origin. The first component, "Pérez", is a patronymic surname that derives from the proper name "Pedro", by adding the suffix "-ez", characteristic of medieval and modern Spanish to indicate "son of". Therefore, "Perez" literally means "son of Peter." The patronymic formation with the suffix "-ez" is very common in Spanish onomastics, and its use dates back to the Middle Ages, consolidating itself as a way of identifying descent or family affiliation.
The second element, "Moreno", is a descriptive surname that in Spanish means "dark" or "dark-skinned." It is an adjective that, in ancient times, was used to describe the physical characteristics of a person, in this case, probably the color of their hair, skin or eyes. The presence of "Moreno" in a surname may indicate that at some point it was used to distinguish a person with particular physical characteristics, or as part of a name that identified an ancestor with those characteristics.
The combination of these two elements into a compound surname suggests that "Pérez-Moreno" could have emerged as a way to distinguish a specific family or lineage, in which the patronymic "Pérez" was joined to a physical descriptor "Moreno". The structure of the surname, therefore, can be classified as a composite surname of descriptive and patronymic character, common in the Spanish onomastic tradition.
From a linguistic point of view, the union of the two components in a compound surname may have been formalized in later times, possibly in the 16th or 17th centuries, when the practice of forming compound surnames began to be consolidated in the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of these elements in different historical records and ancient documents can help to further clarify their origin and evolution.
History and Expansion of the Surname
Analysis of the current distribution of the surname Pérez-Moreno suggests that its most likely origin is in some region of Spain, where the patronymic tradition with "-ez" suffixes was especially prevalent. The significant presence in Spain, with a 68% incidence, indicates that it was probably a frequently used surname in certain social settings or specific territories, perhaps in areas where physical description or family affiliation were relevant to distinguish families.
During the Modern Age, especially from the 16th century onwards, the expansion of Spanish surnames towards America was driven by colonization and migration. The presence in Latin American countries such as Mexico, with an incidence of 1%, and in Puerto Rico, also with 1%, may reflect this expansion. The diffusion in these territories would have occurred through colonizers, missionaries and merchants who took their surnames with them, establishing lineages in the new lands.
In Europe, the presence in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, although to a lesser extent, may be due to later migratory movements, in modern times, or to the adoption of similar surnames for cultural or integration reasons. The presence in countries such as Russia and Canada may also be related to more recent migrations, in search of economic opportunities or for political reasons.
The distribution patternsuggests that the surname may have emerged in a region of Spain where the patronymic and descriptive tradition coexisted, and that it subsequently expanded through internal and external migration processes. The dispersion in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in Europe and other continents, reflects the dynamics of colonization, trade and migration that characterized modern and contemporary history.
Variants of the Pérez-Moreno Surname
As for spelling variants, given that the surname is made up of common elements in Spanish onomastics, it is possible that there are alternative or simplified forms in different regions or times. For example, in some ancient records or documents in other languages, "Pérez-Moreno" might appear as "Perez Moreno" (without a hyphen), or even in abbreviated forms like "P. Moreno."
In other languages, especially in Anglo-Saxon or French-speaking countries, the surname could be adapted phonetically or in its writing, giving rise to forms such as "Perez-Moreno" without changes, or "Perry-Moreno". However, no substantial variants are recorded that significantly alter the structure of the surname.
In relation to related surnames, those that contain similar roots, such as "Moreno" or "Pérez", are abundant in Spanish tradition and can be considered relatives in onomastic terms. The presence of similar compound surnames, such as "García-Moreno" or "López-Moreno", also reflects the trend in the formation of surnames in the Iberian Peninsula.
Regional adaptations may include changes in pronunciation or spelling, but in general, the Pérez-Moreno surname maintains its structure in most historical and current records.
