Bengoechea is a Basque surname, a variant spelling of Bengoetxea. The name originated as a locational surname referring to a house situated "furthest down" in a valley or settlement, from Basque bengo meaning "furthest down" and etxe "house" (hence "the house furthest down"). Etymology The root name Bengoetxea (modern Basque spelling) or Bengoetxe literally translates as "down-more-of-house-the", i.e., "the house of further down" in English or "la casa de más abajo" in Spanish. The element beng(o)- derives from the superlative of be, an old Basque word for "inferior part" or "lower side", combined with etxe ("house") and the definite article suffix -a. Over time, the name was adapted into Spanish and French orthographies: Bengoechea (also Vengoechea) in Spanish, and Bengoetchea in French. Geographic Distribution The Bengoechea surname (along with its cognates) is common throughout the Basque Country, found in many towns across Gipuzkoa, Biscay, and Álava in Spain. Notable locations include Murelaga, Lizarza, Alkitza, Aizarna, Aulestia, Igeldo (San Sebastián), Oiartzun, Aia, Olaberria, Lazkao, Berrobi (Tolosa), and Zizurkil in Gipuzkoa; the valley of Orozko, Mungia, Zeberio, Mundaka and Galdakao in Biscay; and Arrieta and Baranbio (Amurrio) in Álava. Related Variants The spelling Bengochea is a common variant—note the missing 'e' before the 'c'. These forms reflect the same etymology and Basque roots, with differences arising from historical spelling conventions in Spanish and Basque.