Molina is a Spanish and Italian surname meaning "mill", derived from Latin mola (mill). It is a toponymic or occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a mill. The name is most prevalent in Spain and Latin America, with notable bearers including the 16th-century Franciscan missionary and lexicographer Alonso de Molina, who compiled the first Spanish-Nahuatl dictionary in 1571.
Etymology
The surname originates from Spanish and Italian, ultimately from Latin Molina meaning "of a mill" (from mola "mill" + suffix -ina). It is cognate with English Miller and Mills, Dutch Mulder, Danish Møller, and Czech Mlynář / Mlynářová, all derived from occupations related to milling.
Geographic Distribution
Molina is especially common in Spain, particularly in the regions of Castile-La Mancha (with the town Molina de Aragón), Andalusia, and Catalonia. In the Americas, it is widespread due to Spanish colonization, with large populations in Mexico, the Philippines, and the southwestern United States. It is also a place name in Chile, referring to a city in the Maule Region.
Notable Bearers
Among historical figures, Alonso de Molina (1514–1579) was a Spanish Franciscan missionary known for his work in New Spain and the publication of the Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana. In modern times, the surname is carried by many artists, athletes, and politicians across the Spanish-speaking world.
- Meaning: "mill" in Spanish
- Origin: Spanish, Italian
- Type: Occupational, toponymic
- Usage regions: Spain, Latin America, Philippines
Sources: Wiktionary — Molina