Méndez or Mendez is a patronymic surname of Spanish origin and Germanic roots, meaning "Son of Mendo, Menendo, Mendel or Mem". Because it is a derived form of the original german name 'Hermenegild', most likely because of the period in which the Visigoths ruled in Spain, it shares most of its original ethymology (ermen for "whole, immense" and gild for "sacrifice, treasure").
Méndez is a common surname in Spain, México and other countries in Latin America.
Longer forms sharing the same root are Meléndez and Menéndez, while its Portuguese and Galician equivalent is Mendes.
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General
Ana G. Méndez (1908–1997), Puerto Rican educator
Ángel Rivero Méndez (1856–1930), Puerto Rican soldier, writer, journalist and businessman
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born 1942), Cuban cosmonaut
Emilio Méndez Pérez (born 1949), Spanish physicist
Jonna Mendez, (born 1945), American CIA official
Juan E. Méndez (born 1944), Argentine lawyer and academic
Miguel A. García Méndez (1902–1998), Puerto Rican businessman, lawyer, statesman and banker
Tony Mendez, American CIA officer
Willians Mendez Suarez, Cuban Anglican bishop
Arts
Antonio Tobias Mendez (born 1963), American sculptor
Conny Méndez (1898–1979), Venezuelan composer, singer, writer, caricaturist and actress
Dalila Paola Méndez (born 1975), American artist
Denny Méndez (born 1978), Dominican model and actress
DJ Méndez (born 1975), Chilean-Swedish producer, singer and DJ
Erica Mendez, American anime dubbing actor
Francisco Méndez (1907–1962), Guatemalan poet and short-story writer
Gaspar Méndez (fl.1546), Spanish architect of Badajoz
Greta Mendez (born 1954), Trinidadian dancer, choreographer and carnivalist
Lester Mendez, American record producer and songwriter
Lucía Méndez (born 1951), Mexican actress and singer
Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez (1922–2009), Brazilian Catholic priest and patriarch
Marco Méndez (born 1976), Mexican actor
Martin Mendez (born 1978), Uruguayan musician
Nora Méndez (born 1969), Salvadoran poet
Rafael Méndez (1906–1981), American musician and composer
Rebeca Mendez (born 1962), American artist and designer
Politics and military
Aparicio Méndez (1904–1988), Uruguayan politician
Casto Méndez Núñez (1824–1869), Spanish military naval officer
Eulalia Jiménez Méndez (born 1891), Mexican revolutionary
Gaspar Méndez de Haro, 7th Marquis of Carpio (1629–1687), Spanish politician and art collector
Íñigo Méndez de Vigo (born 1956), Spanish politician
Juan N. Méndez (1820–1894), Mexican general and politician
Kevin Mendez, Belizean LGBTQ rights activist
Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr. (1915–2001), American army officer
Manuel A. Garcia Mendez, Puerto Rican businessman, lawyer and politician
Gonzalo Méndez de Cancio (c. 1554 –1622), Governor of Spanish Florida
Marco Aurelio Robles Méndez (1905–1990), Panamanian politician and President
Miguel Abadía Méndez (1867–1947), Colombian politician
Nicanor Costa Méndez, Argentine politician
Olga A. Méndez (1925–2009), Puerto Rican politician
Rafael de Nogales Méndez (1879–1936), Venezuelan mercenary
Rosie Méndez, American politician
Sports
Alexis Méndez (born 1969), Venezuelan track and road cyclist
AJ Mendez (born 1987), American actress, author and professional wrestler better known as AJ Lee
Bruno Méndez (born 1999), Uruguayan footballer
Carlos Méndez (baseball) (born 1974), Venezuelan baseball player
Donaldo Méndez (born 1978), American baseball player
Édgar Méndez (born 1990), Spanish footballer
Edison Méndez (born 1979), Ecuadorian footballer
Federico Méndez (born 1972), Argentine rugby player
Gabriel Mendez (born 1973), Australian footballer
Gustavo Méndez (born 1971), Uruguayan footballer
Gustavo Méndez (referee) (born 1967), Uruguayan football referee
Héctor Méndez (boxer) (1897–1977), Argentine boxer
Héctor Méndez (rugby union), Argentine rugby football player and coach
José Méndez (1887–1928), American baseball player and manager
Juan Mendez (born 1981), American basketball player
Judith Méndez (born 1981), Dominican Republic heptathlete
Limberg Méndez (born 1973), Bolivian football player