Muniz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Spain
Scotland

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Muniz. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. In this case, the surname is derived from the first-name Mummius. Thus, the surname Muniz simply signifies "son of Mummius". The first-name Mummius is itself derived from the name of a Roman tribe whose most famous member was Mummius Achaicus, the Roman Consul who destroyed Corinth in the year 146. The "oz" or "ez" ending to the surname is indicative of its patronymic origins.

Early Origins of the Muniz family

The surname Muniz was first found in Galicia and Castile, important Christian kingdoms of medieval Spain.

The family "claim descent according to some writers, of the Roman consul Lucio Murio; according to others, from the Royal House of Scotland, and there are still those who consider him a descendant of Count Munon Rodriguez, who lived in the 750s." 1

The family proved their nobility at various times, in the Orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, Carlos III and San Juan de Jerusalem; in the Royal Chanceries of Valladolid and Granada, and in the Royal Company of Marine Guards. 1

In Andalucia, Munoz de Loaysa rose to the nobility in the Order of Santiago in 1720 and in Rojas, Munoz of San Pedro, originally from Viniegra de Arriba (Logrono), proved his nobility in the Royal Chanceries of Valladolid and Granada and in the Order of Alcantara. Don Tomas Munoz de San Pedro y Montenegro was created Viscount of Torre Hidalgo and Baron de Campo de Aguilas in 1837. Dona Micaela Munoz de San Pedro y Flores de Lizaur was created Countess of San Miguel in 1876. 1

Early History of the Muniz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Muniz research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1077, 1101, 1512, 1529, 1539, 1567, 1568, 1599, 1671, 1684, 1730, 1737, 1750, 1757, 1776, 1788, 1790, 1798, 1844, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1872 and 1888 are included under the topic Early Muniz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muniz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Muñoz, Munoz, Muñiz, Muniz, Muño, Muno, Muñones and many more.

Early Notables of the Muniz family

Prominent among members of the family

Asturiano Muniz, proved his nobility in the Orders of Santiago (1539 and 1757) and Carlos III (1788), and numerous times in the Royal Chancery of Valladolid and in the Royal Court of Oviedo. Don Alons...

Muniz Ranking

In the United States, the name Muniz is the 1,249^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 2

Muniz migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Muniz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Juan Muniz, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 3
Manuel Muniz, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 3
Haman Muniz, who arrived in America in 1813 3
Alberto Muniz, who arrived in America in 1815 3
Beatriz Muniz, who landed in America in 1815 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Muniz (post 1700) +

Edmond J. Muniz (1940-2023), American politician, 20th Mayor of Kenner, Louisiana (2006-2010)
Margarita Muniz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2008 4
Luis D. Muñiz, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 2008 4
José de la Torre Muñiz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1932, 1944, 1948; Puerto Rico Democratic Party chair, 1945-49 4
Joaquin Muñiz, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Viveiro, 1884-98 4
Cesar Muniz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 4
Francisco "Frankie" Muniz (b. 1985), American actor and racecar driver
Miguel Muñiz de las Cuevas (1939-2022), Spanish economist and government official, member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, president of the Official Credit Institute from 1986 to 1995
Juan Carlos Muñiz (1984-2022), Mexican journalist who covered crimes for the website Testigo Minero, the seventh journalist to be murdered in Mexico in 2022
Tomás Muñiz (1900-1963), Puerto Rican radio and television producer
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

De Atienza, Julio. Nobiliario español: diccionario heráldico de apellidos españoles y de títulos nobiliarios. Madrid, Aguilar, 1959. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html