Molina History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Spain

Etymology of Molina

What does the name Molina mean?

The long and noble heritage behind the name of Molina first began in medieval Spain. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Spain, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Molina was an occupational name for a person who owned, managed, or worked in a mill. The surname Molina is derived from the word molino, which means mill or miller.

Early Origins of the Molina family

The surname Molina was first found in Castile, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Early History of the Molina family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Molina research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1168, 1242, 1513, 1535, 1571, 1579, 1600, 1628 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Molina History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Molina Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Molina, Molino, Molinar, Molinero, Molinera, Moliner, Molinas, Molinos, Molinedas, Molinillo and many more.

Early Notables of the Molina family

Prominent among members of the family

were thirteenth century Castilian landowners Jimeno de Molina and Pedro Molinero
Alonso de Molina (c. 1513-1579), a Franciscan priest and grammarian, who wrote a well-known dictionary of the Nahuatl language published in 1571
Luis de Molina (1535-1600), a Spanish Jesuit priest and a staunch Scholastic defender of 'human liberty'

Molina World Ranking

In the United States, the name Molina is the 533^rd most popular surname with an estimated 54,714 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Molina is ranked the 835^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,114 people with that name. 2 And in South America, the name Molina is the 50^th popular surname with an estimated 80 people with that name. 3

Molina migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Molina Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Martín de Molina, who sailed to America in 1527
Luis de Molina, who sailed to Venezuela in 1534
Melchor de Molina, who sailed to the Spanish Main in 1534
García de Molina, who sailed to Guatemala in 1582

Molina Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ignacio Molina, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 4
Diego De Molina, who landed in America in 1812 4
Bernardino De Molina, who landed in America in 1813 4
Cristobal De Molina, who arrived in America in 1813 4
Antonio De Molina, who arrived in America in 1813 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Molina (post 1700) +

Jesús Gloria Molina (1948-2023), American politician who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, the California State Assembly, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Doctor Pedro José Antonio Molina Mazariegos (1777-1854), Central American politician, considered one of the founders of liberalism in Guatemala, Chief of State of Guatemala (1829-1831)
Jose Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2004 5
J. R. Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Judge of Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, 2002, 2004, 2008; Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Texas 33rd District, 2012 5
Henry G. Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1912, 1916 (alternate) 5
Gonzalo Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 5
Gloria Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988, 1996 (speaker), 2000, 2004, 2008; Member of Democratic National Committee from California, 2004 5
C. Molina (b. 1844), American politician, U.S. Consul in Cartagena, 1884 5
Arlette Molina, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 9th District, 2004 5
Antonio M. Molina, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1912 (Honorary Vice-President), 1916 (alternate) 5
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"List of most common surnames in South America." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_South_America
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 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html