Last name: Altamirano

This interesting and unusual surname is of Spanish origin, and is locational from two places so called, in Mexico and Argentina. The placenames were derived from the Spanish "alto", high and "mira", sight, view, and may mean "view from a height"; the name may have been given by the Spanish invaders when they looked down on the place from a hill or a mountain. The placenames probably date back to the early 16th Century when the Spanish conquered these two countries; Mexico between 1519 - 1521, and Argentina in 1553. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek word, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The surname is now very common in both Mexico and Argentina and it is also found in the southern states of America, such as Texas and California. Among the sample recordings in Mexico are the christening of Teresa Santana Altamirano on December 27th 1630 at Acultzingo, San Juan Bautista, Veracruz, and of Joseph Ursula Aguayo Altamirano on December 28th 1650 at Nochistlan, Zacatecas. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Santana Teresa Altamirano (christening), which was dated December 27th 1630, Acultzingo, San Juan, Bautista, Veracruz, Mexico, during the reign of King Philip 1V of Spain, 1621 - 1665. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

A Altamirano
The name comes from Extremadura in Spain's northwest - there is a city called Ontiveros and a castle called el Altamira - the Altamiranos are direct decendants of the kings of spain, namely Alfonso X and one of these Altamiranos came to Peru with Pizarro.

Karla Altamirano
Very interesting, do you know where i can find this information?

Altamirano
My last name is Altamirano and it's a really uncommon last name. I am Filipino but I think we have spanish heritage somehow

Jonathan Santos Altamirano
I think everyone should know that this name is of Spanish origin, not invented in central or south america, as stated above. It was, as first I've been able to trace, the maiden name of the mother of Hernan Cortes.

Nicholas Altamirano
My Name is Nicholas Alejandro Altamirano and i have been trying to do some genealogy my father i have not seen or heard anything about him scene i was 3 i would like to know where my family came from

Dion Altamirano
I have a lot of Altamirano family in Bakersfield, California originally they are from Nayarit & Jalisco, Mexico.

D. Altamirano
My family is from nayarit and my last name is altamirano

Benny
My name is Altamirano too....From Nayarit...Jala

A. Altamirano
I am a A. Altamirano living in Nor Cal with a whole lot of other Altamirano's. My grandmother had 21 children--half Altamirano and the other half Grijalva. There are about 9-10 from this family with about 6-7 generations. I t is a proud name and I also have many family members in Bakersfield, Los Banos, Brawley Ca., Woodland, and Sacramento. We are proud tall lively group of Spaniards.

J. Harvey
Justo Roberto Altamirano was a soldier with the De Anza expedition that founded San Francisco. He had eight sons several of which had sos themselves. His family is said to have died out but I have found through my genealogy research that the family is large and thriving in California.

Daniel
My name Daniel Fernandez Altamirano from Nicaragua