Show ContentsMenchaca History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Menchaca

What does the name Menchaca mean?

The surname Menchaca is a habitational name from the province of Burgos, derived from the Old Spanish word "mena" and the Latin word "minae" meaning "battlement." The name was typically given to someone who lived on a high spot or mountain. Mena was also a Roman goddess. Today, the Valley of Mena (Spanish: Valle de Mena) is a municipality of the province of Burgos, Spain and has a population of 3,926.

Early Origins of the Menchaca family

The surname Menchaca was first found in Granada, in southern Spain.

Early History of the Menchaca family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Menchaca research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1411, 1456, 1603, 1613, 1614, 1628, 1658, 1675 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Menchaca History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Menchaca Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mena, Meno, Minae, Menchaca and others.

Early Notables of the Menchaca family

Prominent among members of the family Juan de Mena (1411-1456), one of the most famous Spanish poets of the fifteenth century; António Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Marialva and 3rd Count of Cantanhede (1603-1675), Portuguese general who fought in the Portuguese Restoration War; Francisco de...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Menchaca Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Menchaca Ranking

In the United States, the name Menchaca is the 5,484th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


Menchaca migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Menchaca Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francisco Menchaca, who landed in Texas in 1835 2
  • Jose Nasorio Menchaca, who landed in Texas in 1835 2
  • Maria Solidad De Menchaca, who arrived in Texas in 1835 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Menchaca (post 1700) +

  • Gil Menchaca, American actor
  • Kristian Menchaca (1983-2006), American Private First Class, recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart Medal and Prisoner of War Medal
  • Penélope Menchaca (b. 1968), Los Angeles based Mexican television host, singer, and actress
  • Juan Ramón Menchaca (b. 1977), Uruguayan rugby union player
  • Richard "Dick" Menchaca (1922-2005), Mexican two-time Golden Gloves champion


  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)


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