Last Name Guardado

The surname "Guardado" has Spanish origins. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name "Guitardo," a diminutive form of the name "Gonzalo." In medieval Spain, many people were referred to by a nickname or a variant of their father's name, and this practice carried over into the creation of last names. The suffix "-ado" indicates that someone was related to the bearer of the given name. In this case, "Guardado" can translate to "little Gonzalo." However, it is important to note that surnames often have multiple origins or variations, and it is always possible for a surname to have different meanings or origins within different regions and families.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Guardado

The meaning and origin of the last name Guardado

The surname Guardado is of Spanish origin, derived from the occupational name "el guardado" which means "the watchman" or "the protector." This name was given to individuals who had duties related to protection, such as guards of castles, cities, or towns, or keepers of treasures. The surname Guardado is primarily found in Spanish-speaking countries but has also been adopted by families of other origins with Hispanic ancestry. It is a common name throughout Spain, Latin America, and the United States. The variation "Guardado" represents a person from any of several places called Guarda, which are located in various regions of Spain, or it could be a variant spelling of other names like Guardia (guardsman) or Guardado de la Vega (watchman of the meadow).

Geographical distribution of the last name Guardado

The surname Guardado has its origins in Spain and is most commonly found in the regions of Andalusia, Extremadura, and Castile-La Mancha. Historically, it was also prevalent in Galicia, particularly in the provinces of A Coruña, Pontevedra, and Lugo. Today, Guardado can be found worldwide due to migration patterns, with significant populations in Latin America, the United States, Canada, and other Spanish-speaking countries. In the United States, Texas, California, Florida, and New York have high concentrations of individuals with the surname Guardado. In Europe, aside from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Germany also host families bearing this name. The global dispersal of the Guardado family reflects historical events such as the Spanish colonization of the Americas and modern-day immigration trends.

Variants and spellings of the last name Guardado

The surname Guardado has several variations and spellings, mainly due to regional dialects, transcription errors, and personal preference. The most common versions include:

1. Guardado - This is the standard Spanish spelling, which is derived from the Latin word "Guardare" meaning 'to watch'.
2. GuardaDO - Some individuals may write it with capitalized initial D to emphasize the pronunciation or for personal preference.
3. Guarda'do - This variant includes an apostrophe between the 'd' and the final 'o', which might occur when the surname is passed down orally in some regions.
4. Guardado de - It can be prefixed with "de" (meaning "of" in Spanish), as a way to denote a possessive relationship, such as a town name or a family estate.
5. Guadardo - In rare cases, it may be misspelled as Guadardo due to homophonic similarities between the sounds of 'g' and 'gu', or an error during transcription.
6. Wardenado (Portuguese) - The surname can also appear with a Portuguese spelling, especially among families that emigrated from Portugal to Spanish-speaking regions.

Famous people with the last name Guardado

Notable individuals bearing the surname Guardado include:

1. Miguel Angel Guardado (b. 1984), a Mexican professional footballer who has played as a midfielder for several top European clubs, including Deportivo La Coruña and Valencia CF, as well as the Mexican national team. He is a two-time FIFA World Cup participant.
2. Marco Antonio Guardado (b. 1976), also known by his stage name Pepe Guardado, is a Mexican retired footballer who played as a midfielder for teams such as Pachuca and Deportivo La Coruña. He represented Mexico in the FIFA World Cup on three occasions.
3. Patricia Manterola (b. 1972), born Patricia Guardado Manterola, is a Mexican-Salvadoran singer, actress, dancer, and television presenter. She gained fame as a member of the pop group Siempre en Domingo before embarking on a successful solo career.
4. Daniela Guardado (b. 1985), a Mexican television host, model, beauty pageant titleholder, and entrepreneur. She was crowned Nuestra Belleza México in 2007 and represented Mexico at the Miss Universe pageant later that year.
5. Juan Carlos Guardado (b. 1964), a Mexican musician, songwriter, and record producer who is best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the legendary rock band Mago de Oz. The band is popular for their unique blend of heavy metal and folk music.

Genealogical research on the last name Guardado

The last name Guardado is of Spanish origin, derived from the verb "guardar" which means "to keep" or "to guard". It is a common surname in Spain and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Portugal and Brazil. One notable historical figure with this surname is Juan de Oñate y Salazar, a Spanish conquistador who was the first European to settle New Mexico in the United States. The Guardado family name can be traced back to the medieval kingdoms of Leon and Castile in Spain. Variations of the name include Guardado De La Fuente, Guardado Garcia, and Guardado Perez. Today, the surname is widespread across the Americas, particularly in Mexico, where it is among the top 100 most common last names. In the United States, the Census Bureau reported over 20,000 people with the last name Guardado in 2019. The family history and origins of the Guardado surname continue to be researched by genealogists worldwide.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Guardado"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 11 June 2025

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