Castañeda

This article is about the history of the surname. For other uses, see Castañeda (disambiguation).
Castañeda
Family name
Pronunciation /kæstnjɛdə/
Meaning "chestnut"
Region of origin Spain, Portugal
Related names Castaneda
Castanheda

Castañeda or Castaneda is a Spanish surname. It originates with a grandson of King Fruela II, who reigned as the King of Asturias, King of León and King of Galicia (what is today Northern Spain and Northern Portugal) between 910-925AD. Since the surname was titled by his royal highness' grandson El Conde Gutierre Rodriguez Señor de Castañeda (Title of subordinate rule), anyone who carries the surname holds ancestry with noble blood as a descendant of King Fruela II and descendant to statesman and military leader of León Ramiro Fróilaz.

The name's meaning is habitational, from any of various places in Santander, Asturias, and Salamanca, derived from castañeda, a collective of castaña "chestnut". The name is believed to be created by the fact that the bourgeois House of Castañeda was situated in a valley of chestnuts, thus meaning "Castle of the Chestnuts."

In non-Hispanic countries, the name is usually spelled Castaneda (without the tilde). In Portuguese, this name is spelled Castanheda.

The surname can be found primarily in Spain, Portugal and the Americas after the Spanish conquest of North and South America.

People with the surname