Surname Jimenez - Meaning and Origin

An Exploration of ‘Jimenez’ Ancestry: Insights from iGENEA DNA test

As a seeker of my genetic ancestry, I pursued a DNA test with iGENEA. The objective was to explore the roots of my surname ‘Jimenez’. The technical aspects of the iGENEA DNA test, which uses an autosomal DNA test, and its 99.9% accuracy, are impressive. The results provided valuable insights into the history and distribution of the surname 'Jimenez,' revealing its Iberian origins and its reach into Latin America, the Caribbean, and even North Africa.

U. Jimenez

Jimenez: What does the surname Jimenez mean?

The last name Jimenez is of Spanish origin and is derived from the personal name Jimeno which was popular in the Middle Ages. The name is composed of two common elements, "Jimen" meaning right-hand and "-ez" which is a patronymic suffix meaning "son of".

This surname is one of the most common in Spain. It is distributed worldwide, but it is especially common in Latin America, in countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.

It is thought that the first person to bear the name may have been a man named Jimeno - the first recorded use was in the 12th century in Valencia. Over the centuries, the name spread throughout the Iberian peninsula and beyond, becoming Jimenez in the Spanish speaking areas and Jiménez in the Portuguese speaking areas.

The surname Jimenez also has frequently been associated with those who held royal and nobility status. In the 12th century Castile, Alfonso VIII granted the name "Jimenez de la Rosa" to one of his commanders, Diego Rodriguez de Chaves.

Today, the name Jimenez is still a popular choice among families and continues to be spread around the world. Those who carry the name are likely to possess a family identity that is both unique and timeless.

Jimenez: Where does the name Jimenez come from?

The last name Jimenez is a very common surname today. It is especially prevalent in countries with high Hispanic populations, such as Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and the United States.

In Mexico, the last name is particularly prevalent. Jimenez comes from the Latin “Iulianus” and means “Son of Julian”. In Mexico it is one of the most frequent last names. According to the 2000 Mexican census, it was the fourth most common surname in the country and was shared by more than 1.4 million people.

The Jimenez surname is also widespread in Spain, ranking sixth most common in the 2006 population census. The name has an even more ancient history in Spain than in Mexico, and has been in the country since ancient times.

In the United States, Jimenez is the 28th most common surname, shared by over half a million people. A significant part of the population that bears the name can be traced back to Spanish-speaking countries. The popularity of the name in America is likely attributed to the booming Hispanic population in the country.

Jimenez is found in various other countries around the world as well. In Colombia, it is the 16th most common and in the Dominican Republic, it is the 7th most frequent.

Overall, the last name Jimenez is very common today, especially among Hispanic populations. It is found in many countries, spanning from Central and South America, to Europe and North America.

Variations of the surname Jimenez

The surname Jimenez is a patronymic i.e. derived from a given name, which is a Spanish variant of the Hebrew name יְהוֹחָנָן (Yehohanan, Yohanan) meaning ‘God is gracious’. This surname is also found in Latin American countries where it is usually spelled as Jiménez. It is also occasionally spelled as Jimenéz, Giménez, Ximénez, Ximenéz, or Gimenez.

The variants of this surname are often based on dialects and languages of the countries from which the bearer is from. The variations in Spain include Ximene, Gimeno, Gimenés, Gimenéz, Ximena and Himenez while in Hispanic countries such as Mexico, it is spelled as Jimenez, Jiménez, Ximenez and Ximénez or in Portuguese as Ximenes.

Apart from these, there are several other spellings of the same surname, such as Geminez, Gimez, Jimenes, Jimenez Jiminez, Jimines, Jiminiz, Jiminey, Jimens, Jimons, Jimon, Jimonian, Jimano, Jimantez, Jimanz, Limenez, Jimeno, Jimez, Jime, Himenez, Himen, Gimenez, Geimenez, Geminez, Ximenez, Ximen, Ximian, Ximanes, Ximans and Simenez.

There are several variations of the Jimenez surname that appear in different countries. Some of the more popular variants include Simons, Simon, Simmonds, Siman, Siemens, Siems, Simonsen, Simpson and Symons.

In addition, Jimenez is also a surname in Jewish families, usually found spelt as Jimenez or Yehudah. This name is derived from the Hebrew personal name Judah, meaning "praise" or "celebration".

In conclusion, Jimenez is a very prevalent and popular surname in many countries, and can be found in a countless number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Jimenez

• Pedro Jimenez: famous Colombian long-distance runner
• Juan Jimenez: actor from several soap operas and telenovelas
• Edward Jimenez: professional basketball player
• Maria Jimenez: Folklore singer from Spain
• Mathew Jimenez: former Major League Baseball pitcher
• David Jimenez: professional tennis player
• Chris Jimenez: professional footballer
• Jorge Jimenez: Mexican actor
• Linda Jimenez: Venezuelan composer and songwriter
• Jovanny Jimenez: award-winning singer from documentary film
• Luis Jimenez: American artist and sculptor
• Rosanna Jimenez: Miss Puerto Rico 1995
• Eric Jimenez: American actor
• Selena Jimenez: actress from the Philippines
• Esteban Jimenez: Costa Rican footballer
• Arquimedes Jimenez: Critically-acclaimed Colombian writer
• Felix Jimenez: Mexican telenovela actor
• Julian Jimenez: Award winning filmmaker
• Jonathan Jimenez: Panamanian professional boxer
• Fela Jimenez: Modern Spanish ceramic artist

Other surnames