Villaverde is a Spanish habitational surname, originally referring to a person from any of the numerous towns in Spain named Villaverde. The place name combines villa “town” and verde “green,” literally meaning “green town.”
The surname is first recorded in medieval Castile and has spread across the Spanish-speaking world. Many towns called Villaverde exist in Spain, such as Villaverde del Río (Seville) and Villaverde de Íscar (Segovia). As a surname, it commonly appears in Philippine contexts due to Spanish colonial history. Notably, Filipino physician and writer Trinidad Villaverde (1812–1877) was a prominent figure.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Villaverde was the 21,759th most common surname, with 1,195 bearers, predominantly among Hispanic/Latino (71%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (16%) individuals.
- Meaning: Derived from villa (town) and verde (green) – “green town”
- Origin: Spanish habitational surname
- Type: Surname
- Usage regions: Spain, Philippines, Latin America, United States
Sources: Wiktionary — Villaverde