ROOTED IN THE LAND:

The surname Ortega comes from the land
a locative name given to those
who lived in or came from towns called Ortega
in Burgos, La Coruña, and Jaén, Spain.
Its meaning? “A settlement by nettles,”
from the Spanish word ortiga.
It’s a name that speaks of place, resilience, and connection to the earth.

A NAME WITH HISTORY:

One of the earliest known records
comes from Valladolid, Spain,
where Phelpa de Ortega was christened
on March 2, 1570.
As families moved across Spain and beyond,
the name Ortega carried with it
centuries of tradition and strength.

A NAME THAT TRAVELS WELL:

Today, more than 250,000 people in the United States
proudly bear the Ortega name.
It’s a name worn by generations,
from farmers to leaders, artists to entrepreneurs
with roots that stretch across oceans
and a legacy that continues to grow.