Surname Solis - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing My Heritage: The Multicultural Tapestry of the Solis Surname Revealed by iGENEA DNA Test

iGENEA DNA test results on my surname, Solis, have painted a rich tapestry of deep-rooted European ancestry, tied to Spain, Portugal, and France under the R1b haplogroup and R-M269 branch. These findings link my lineage back to historical periods such as the Middle Ages, potentially even the Roman Empire. Adding a twist to the tale, an unexpected revelation was a link to Sephardic Jewish roots.

O. Solis

Solis: What does the surname Solis mean?

The surname Solis is of Spanish origin and it translates to "sun." The name is believed to have been originally used as a nickname for someone bright and cheerful, or possibly for someone who lived in a particularly sunny spot. It could also have been used to symbolize the radiance and importance of the sun in many ancient cultures and the pivotal role it played in agriculture. Due to colonization and migration, the Solis surname is now common in several countries beyond Spain, such as Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States, sometimes with small variations in spelling.

Solis: Where does the name Solis come from?

The last name Solis is most commonly found in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Specifically, the name emerged in what is now Mexico as early as the 14th century and was historically found throughout Central and Latin America.

In terms of who bears the name today, Solis remains most prevalent in Mexico, and is among the top 10 most common surnames in the country. A US Census estimated that over 86,000 households in the nation contain the last name. According to the same census, the United States also contains over 74,000 households featuring the last name, with a majority of that population in the southern states including Texas, Florida, and California.

Further, Solis remains commonplace in other Latin American countries as well. For instance, the 2020 Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) in Costa Rica reported that the name Solís ranked fourth in population frequency. El Salvador and Nicaragua also list Solis in their top 10 most common surnames.

Across the Americas, the name has continued to thrive and expand after its emergence in the 14th century, with millions of individuals now bearing the last name Solis.

Variations of the surname Solis

The surname Solis originates from the Latin noun “sol” which means “sun”. The surname can be spelled Solís, Solís, Soliz or Soils, and is found in many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, United States and Spain. It is also seen in some Portuguese-speaking countries, primarily Brazil.

Variants of the surnames Solis come from the 16th century Latin “Solius”, which comes from the Old French “solés”, itself from the Latin word “solēs”. This word means “sunshine”, “a ray of light” and “radiance”, giving the Solis surname a regal and glorious connotation.

The surname Solis is derived from the Latin personal name Sulis, which is derived from the same source. It is also found in many different forms, such as Sulice, Sulesse, Soules, Soliz, Soley, Soulis, Sollis, Sollies, Sollys, Solleis and Solais.

Other variations of Solis include Sulls, Soules, Solles, Soulis, Soulesse, Sules, Solsa and Soliz. These spellings were often found in older records, particularly from Spain.

The surnames Solá, Soler, Solaiz, Sôlo and Solà are also variants of Solis, all of which originated in the Latin word “sol” and have their own distinct spellings.

The Solis surname is also found in many non Spanish-speaking countries, mostly in the form of the variant Soliz, though other variations may sometimes be found. Polish variations such as Saliś, Salsci or Solski, and Irish variants such as O’Sollis, are likely from another source, such as Irish Gaelic or Slavic, as they are not derived from the Latin “sol”.

Famous people with the name Solis

• Gerardo Solis: Mexican politician
• Gabriel Solis: American politician
• Alex Solis: Panamanian jockey
• Manuel Solis: Cuban songwriter and musician
• Juan Carlos Solis: Ecuadorian film, TV and stage actor
• Pablo Solis: Venezuelan TV actor
• Abraham Solis: Mexican actor
• Chava Solis: Mexican writer
• Shirley Solis: American singer-songwriter
• Anadel Martinez Solis: Mexican F1 racer

Other surnames

SolimanSolinbergerSolivan