Alcala Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Alcala last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Alcala last name
Meaning of the Alcala last name: the castle. Alcala, Spanish Alcalá, is a surname from Arabic al-qal'a, "the castle", the name of many Spanish towns, such as Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Cervantes, and Alcalá la Real. Families from these towns took the last name to the Americas. It is common in Mexico and Venezuela.
Arms associated with the Alcala name
Spanish heraldry likes castles, lions and trees, and coats of arms associated with the Alcala surname, each with its blazon, follow suit.
Get your full Alcala family history
This is only a glimpse of the Alcala story. The full Alcala history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Alcala coat of arms. Get the full Alcala report.
Alcala name FAQ
What does the Alcala name mean?
The castle. Common variants include Alcalá, Alcalde.
Where does the Alcala surname come from?
It originates in Spain, and is also found in Mexico, Venezuela and Spain.
Is there a Alcala coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Alcala coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Roberto Faure, María Asunción Ribes & Antonio García, Diccionario de apellidos españoles (Espasa, 2001); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).