Carbajal
What is the origin of the last name Carbajal?
Meaning and origin
The last name Carbajal has Spanish origins and is derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated from the town of Carbajal de la Legua in the province of León, Spain. The name Carbajal itself is composed of two elements: "carro" meaning "cart" or "carriage" and "bajal" meaning "downhill" or "lower." Therefore, the name Carbajal can be roughly translated as "lower carriage" or "downhill cart," potentially indicating a historical association with transportation or geography.
The longer story
Its origins can be traced back to Spain, particularly in the region of Galicia and the Basque Country. The name is of Spanish origin and is derived from the Basque words "kar" meaning "hill" and "abai" meaning "river".
The surname Carbajal is primarily found in Spanish-speaking countries, with the highest concentration being in Mexico and the United States. It is a relatively common surname in Mexico and is often associated with families of Spanish descent.
The name Carbajal has variations and alternate spellings, including Carbajales, Carbajosa, Carvajal, and Carabajal. These variations stem from regional dialects and pronunciation differences.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,646
Carbajal was the 1,646th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,838 people, about 7.1 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Carbajal
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Carbajal is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.