Puga is a Galician surname derived from the noun puga, meaning “thorn, prickle.” It originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a thorny place or as a nickname for a person with a prickly temperament. The surname is most common in Galicia, northwest Spain, and has since spread to other Spanish-speaking countries through migration. Notable bearers of the name include the Spanish Baroque painter Antonio de Puga (1602–1648), known for his still-life and religious works. In Chile, Arturo Puga (1879–1970) was a military officer who briefly served as chairman of the government junta in 1932. The French general Benoît Puga (born 1953) served as Chief of the Military Staff of the President of France and Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour. Other personalities include Peruvian writer Amalia Puga de Losada (1866–1963), Mexican writers María Luisa Puga (1944–2004) and Héctor Pablo Ramírez Puga (born 1967), Colombian first lady Bertha Puga Martínez (1909–2007), Spanish chef Manuel Maria Puga y Parga (1874–1918), and Portuguese academic Rogerio Miguel Puga (born 1974). The name is etymologically related to Portuguese and Spanish words for thorny plants, and also figures in local place names across Galicia. No direct patronymic or clan origin is recorded; it appears predominantly as an independent family name. Meaning: “thorn, prickle” (Galician) Origin: Galician topographic or nickname surname Type: Surname Regions of use: Galicia (Spain), Latin America