Show ContentsValdez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Valdez. 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. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. Some names are derived from the saints of the Christian Church, but many Spanish surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. The Visigoths, who ruled Spain between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries had a profound impact on the development of surnames.

Early Origins of the Valdez family

The surname Valdez was first found in Asturias, birthplace of the Christian Reconquest of Spain. Valdespino was founded in 1430 and is one of Spain's oldest sherry and Spanish wine producers.

Early History of the Valdez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Valdez research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1478, 1490, 1509, 1532, 1541, 1557, 1622 and 1690 are included under the topic Early Valdez History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Valdez Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Valdés, Valdes, Valdez and others.

Early Notables of the Valdez family

Prominent among members of the family Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés (1478-1557), a Spanish historian and writer, commonly known as "Oviedo"; Juan de Valdés (c. 1509-1541), Spanish writer and secretary to King Charles...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Valdez Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Valdez Ranking

In the United States, the name Valdez is the 340th most popular surname with an estimated 79,584 people with that name. 1


Valdez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Valdez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • José Valdez, 40, who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1823
  • Jose Valdez, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1823 2
  • Joseph Valdez, aged 45, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1825 2
  • Rubo Valdez, aged 20, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1825 2
  • Joatano Valdez, aged 52, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1825 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Valdez Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Matividad Valdez, who landed in Texas in 1911 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Valdez (post 1700) +

  • Ruben A. Valdez (1937-2019), American politician, Member of Colorado State House of Representatives, 1971-78; Speaker of the Colorado State House of Representatives, 1975-76 3
  • Luis Valdez (b. 1940), American playwright, writer and film director
  • Private First Class Jose F Valdez (1925-1945), American soldier awarded both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Croix de Guerre during WWII 4
  • Epimenio Valdez, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Mexico State Senate 4th District, 1937 3
  • Ephrain Valdez (b. 1969), American Republican politician, Chair of Faulkner County Republican Party, 2003; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 2004 3
  • Elizabeth Valdez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996 3
  • Efrain V. Valdez, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State House of Representatives 74th District, 2012 3
  • Dick Valdez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1960 3
  • David Valdez, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 2008 3
  • Antoinette Valdez (b. 1932), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nevada, 2004, 2008 3
  • ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. World War 2 Awards.com - VALDEZ, Jose. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Jose Valdez. Retrieved from http://www.ww2awards.com/person/34096


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