Espino

Espino is a Spanish surname, a variant of Espina. Both names derive from the Spanish word espino meaning "hawthorn" or "thornbush," ultimately from Latin spīnus "thorn tree." As a toponymic or habitational surname, Espino likely originated as a name for someone who lived near a notable thornbush or hawthorn tree, a common feature in the Iberian landscape.

Distribution

According to the 2010 United States Census, Espino is the 2278th most common surname in the country, with nearly 16,000 bearers, the overwhelming majority (90.87%) identifying as Hispanic/Latino. This reflects the surname's prevalence among Spanish-speaking populations and its dispersal through immigration from Spain and Latin America. The name is also found in the Philippines, where it was introduced during the Spanish colonial period, as well as in Catalonia, where the cognate form is also recorded.

Related and Variant Forms

Espino shares its root with several related surnames, including the direct variant Espina, as well as the derived forms Espinosa and Espinoza (meaning "thorny place" or "abounding in thorns"). These names are widespread across the Spanish-speaking world, with Espinosa and Espinoza being particularly common in Mexico, Colombia, and the southwestern United States.

• Meaning: came from Spanish espino "hawthorn/thornbush"
• Origin: Spanish toponymic surname
• Type: habitational or descriptive
• Usage regions: Spain, Latin America, United States, Philippines