18 surnames formed the same way: son of the one who.
18 surnames built the same way. The ending is not decoration: it is the grammar of how a line got its name, and it repeats across thousands of families.
The root under the ending differs every time. What these names share is the rule, not the meaning — and the rule is often older than any of the roots it attached to.
One of the most productive patronymics in the world. Rodríguez — son of Rodrigo, Martínez — son of Martín, López — son of Lope. The direct counterpart of English -son and Ukrainian -enko: three languages, three continents, one idea — to name a person through their father.
18 surnames taken apart.