Cáceres is a Spanish surname derived from the name of a city and province in Extremadura, western Spain. The place name Cáceres has uncertain origins, though it is generally believed to come from the Extremaduran form Caçris. Some historical linguists link it to the Latin Castra Caecilia, possibly referring to a Roman camp founded by the general Quintus Caecilius Metellus, but this connection remains speculative.EtymologyThe toponym Cáceres first appears in medieval records as Caçris in Extremaduran. The shift from Latin castra (camp) to Caçris is plausible but not firmly documented. Other scholars suggest a pre-Roman, possibly Celtic, root. The surname likely originated as a habitational name for someone from the city of Cáceres.Notable BearersNotable individuals with the surname include Úrsula Cáceres (16th-century Venezuelan colonist) and José María de la Cáceres (19th-century Argentine general). In sports, footballers Víctor Cáceres (Paraguayan) and Martín Cáceres (Uruguayan) have brought prominence to the name internationally.DistributionThe surname is most common in Spanish-speaking countries, especially Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. In the United States, it is often found among communities with roots from Extremadura.Variant FormsVariants include Cácer (less common) and the Portuguese/Norse Káčer (unrelated). In English, the name is often spelled without the accent, but retains the same pronunciation variants in Spanish: /ˈkaθeɾes/ (Spain) vs. /ˈkaseɾes/ (Latin America).Meaning: from the city of Cáceres, possibly 'Roman camp'Origin: Spanish (habitational)Type: Toponymic surnameRegions: Spain, Latin America