The surname Lopez is of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the given name Lope, which means "wolf" in Spanish. It is a patronymic name, meaning that it was originally passed down through the male line, with each new generation bearing the father's first name as its last name.
The name Lopes is believed to have originated in Galicia, Spain, and was brought to Portugal by settlers from that region. Over time, it became common throughout Spain and Portugal, and eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond through migration and exploration.
Today, Lopez is a widely recognized surname around the world, with large populations carrying this name found in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and the United States, among other places. Despite its widespread use, however, the meaning behind the name remains consistent: "wolf."
In literature and popular culture, several notable figures bear the last name Lopez. These include the Puerto Rican poet and writer Jose de Diego Lopez, the Mexican-American actor Danny Glover, and the American musician and songwriter Joan Jett, whose real name is Joan Marie Larkin but who goes by the stage name Joan Jett Lopez.
Overall, while Lopez may be a common surname with roots in Spain and Portugal, it carries with it a unique and powerful meaning that has stood the test of time.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Lopez has been consistently used as a given name for babies born in the United States over several decades, from the early to late twentieth century.
In the earlier part of this period, between 1915 and 1963, there was an average of around 5 births per year with the name Lopez. This suggests that during these years, Lopez was a relatively uncommon name but one that still appeared periodically among newborns in the United States.
There were notable spikes in popularity for the name Lopez in certain years. In particular:
* The number of babies named Lopez increased to 7 births in 1971.
* There was another spike in the early 1980s, with 8 births in 1981 and a peak of 9 births in 1982.
After this peak period, the popularity of the name Lopez appeared to decline somewhat but remained stable nonetheless. Between 1993 and 1995, there were around 6 to 7 births per year with the name Lopez.
In total, over these years, there were 90 babies born in the United States who were named Lopez. This indicates that while it was not one of the most popular names during this period, Lopez nonetheless remained a recognizable and used name for newborns across several decades.