Morales

Morales is a common surname of Spanish origin. It is derived from the word 'moral', which in Spanish refers to the mulberry tree. The name is often given to people who lived near a mulberry tree or a grove of these trees.

Etymology

The surname Morales is of toponymic origin, derived from the Spanish word 'moral', meaning 'mulberry tree'. It is a common feature of Spanish surnames to be derived from geographical features or places where an initial bearer lived or held land. In this case, the original bearers of the Morales surname likely lived near a mulberry tree or a grove of mulberry trees.

Distribution

Morales is a common surname in many Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. It is also found in other countries with significant Spanish-speaking populations, such as the United States and Philippines.

Notable people

There are many notable people with the surname Morales, including:

• Esai Morales, an American actor known for his roles in films such as 'La Bamba' and 'Bad Boys'.
• Hilda Morales Trujillo, a Guatemalan lawyer and women's rights activist.
• Pedro Morales, a Puerto Rican professional wrestler.

See also

• List of people with surname Morales
• Spanish naming customs
• Hispanic surnames in the United States