The Sánchez Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Sánchez, its origins in Spain, and the story behind a Sánchez family crest.
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Origin of the Sánchez name
Sánchez is a patronymic meaning "son of Sancho". Sancho was a popular medieval Spanish given name, ultimately from Latin Sanctius, related to sanctus, "holy". The name is rooted in Castile and Navarre and became one of the most common surnames in Spain and Latin America.
Son of Sancho
Sánchez is a patronymic: "son of Sancho", a given name from Latin Sanctius, "holy". Several medieval kings of Navarre, Castile and Aragon were called Sancho, and their children appear in the records as Sánchez; Sancho III of Pamplona, for example, was the father of García Sánchez III of Navarre and Ramiro I Sánchez of Aragon. Most Sánchez families, though, simply descend from ordinary men named Sancho.
It is one of the most common names in the Spanish-speaking world. Forebears estimates more than 2.2 million bearers in Mexico and about 829,000 in Spain, where it ranks 7th. The 2010 US Census counted 612,752 people named Sanchez, ranking it 26th in the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Sánchez name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Sánchez name in Spain. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Mexico, the United States and Argentina; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Sánchez family history
The complete Sánchez pack goes much further: researched origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Sánchez name FAQ
What does the Sánchez name mean?
Son of Sancho. Common variants include Sanches, Sanchis, Sans.
Where does the Sánchez surname come from?
It originates in Spain, and is also found in Mexico, the United States and Argentina.
Is there a Sánchez coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Sánchez crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Sánchez coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
What does Sánchez mean?
"Son of Sancho"; Sancho comes from Latin Sanctius, "holy".
Are all Sánchez families descended from kings?
No. Sancho was a very common given name, so most families descend from commoners called Sancho.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010. Facts and figures: Forebears surname distribution (estimates); US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file; Wikipedia, "Sánchez". Forebears figures are modelled estimates, rounded.