Meaning & History
Salcedo is a Spanish toponymic surname derived from the Latin word salix, meaning "willow tree". The name originally referred to someone who lived near a willow tree, combining the element salce (from Latin salix) with the common suffix -edo denoting a place abundant in something.
Etymology
The surname originates from Old Spanish salce for "willow", ultimately from Latin salix. As a habitational name, it may also derive from various places named Salcedo in Spain, such as towns in Biscay, Pontevedra, and Palencia.
Distribution
Salcedo is a common surname in the Philippines and Latin America due to Spanish colonization. In the United States, the 2010 Census recorded it as the 1,967th most frequent surname, with 18,387 bearers, the vast majority (89.37%) identifying as Hispanic/Latino.
Notable Bearers
- Francisco de Salcedo (1520-1575), Spanish conquistador and mayor of Manila.
- Leonardo Salcedo (born 1939), Mexican tennis player.
Variants such as de Zalcedo and Salzedo also exist but are less common.
- Meaning: “willow tree”
- Origin: Spanish place-name from Latin salix
- Type: Surname (toponymic)
- Usage: Spanish-speaking world, especially Spain, Philippines, Latin America
Sources: Wiktionary — Salcedo