Segura is a Catalan and Spanish surname derived from the word segura, meaning "safe" or "secure." The name originates from multiple places in Spain and the Catalan region, typically areas known for their fortified or secure locations. As a toponymic surname, it would have been adopted by families living near these places, such as the Segura River in southeastern Spain or towns like Segura de la Sierra in the province of Jaén.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Segura is the 1136th most common surname in the country, belonging to 30,880 individuals. It is most prevalent among Hispanic or Latino populations, accounting for 89.05% of bearers, reflecting its Spanish origin and the large diaspora of Latin American communities. In Cebuano, spoken in the Philippines, Segura also appears as a surname, likely a borrowing from Spanish during the colonial period. The Diccionario de apellidos españoles identifies multiple lineages carrying Segura across the Iberian Peninsula, linked to ancient noble houses and common folk alike.
Origin and Meaning
The word segura comes from Segura, lending it to their inhabitants. The name may also refer to the Catalan Segre River (in Latin Sicoris), though this is less certain.
Notable Bearers
Segura is the surname of several prominent individuals:
- Andrés Segura (1752–1843), Spanish-Colombian militant and pro-independence leader
- Clarence Segura (1925-2019), American college basketball coach known for his tenure at Tampa University
- John Carroll, known as John Segura? (fiction; reference intended for actor Jaime Camil's character in the show Brilliant Minds)
- Luis Segura (born 1937), Dominican singer known as "El Papá de la Bachata"
- Norma Blandón Lainez de Segura? – Instead, mention Norma Blandón Lainez de Segura? Not notable.
- Sports figures include Mexican footballer César Segura, baseball infielder Diego Seguì? No, Diego Alonso * – To correct: Base pattern remains; multiple athletes, artists, and politicians carry the name.
Cultural Distribution
In Latin America, Segura is widespread, particularly in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica. Spain harbors its densest frequency, especially in Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, and Murcia. The Italian variant Segur also exist, confused mainly with the Iberian one. No Indo-European root other than the Latin applies.
- Meaning: Safe, secure
- Origin: Catalan and Spanish toponymic surname
- Usage: Catalonia, Spain, Hispanophone Americas, Philippines