Molina is a Spanish occupational surname. Molina is Latin for 'mill' and is derived from another Latin word, mola ('millstone'). The surname originated from the early Middle Ages, referring to a person who operates a mill or a millstone.[1] Other Spanish surnames, like Molinero (literally: 'miller'), have also originated in the work and management of a mill. Spanish municipalities like Molina de Segura (Murcia) or Molina de Aragón (Castilla-La Mancha) still nowadays include millstones or mill blades in their respective coats of arms (cf. coat of arms of Molina de Segura and Coats of arms of Molina de Aragón).
A bloodline of Molinas, in the Christian Kingdom of Castile, originated from ennoblement when Manrique Pérez de Lara, of the House of Lara, in April 1154 issued a fuero to the town of Molina, nowadays called Molina de Aragón.[2]
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- Alfonso Quiñónez Molina (1874–1950), President of El Salvador twice 1918–1927
- Alfred Molina (born 1953), English actor
- Alvaro de Molina (born 1957), American banker, chief financial officer of Bank of America Corporation
- Ángel Molina Galano (1889-1936), Spanish officer
- Ángela Molina (born 1955), Spanish actress
- Antonio Muñoz Molina (born 1956), Spanish writer and member of the Royal Spanish Academy
- Antonio Sebastián de Toledo Molina y Salazar (1625–1710), viceroy of New Spain 1664–1673
- Antonio Tejero Molina (born 1932), Spanish Lieutenant-Colonel who attempted a coup d'état
- Arturo Armando Molina (1927–2021), President of El Salvador 1972–1977
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E
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J
- Jacinto Molina (Paul Naschy) (1934–2009), Spanish movie actor, screenwriter, and director
- Jason Molina (1974–2013), American indie rock musician
- Jennifer Molina (born 1981), Mexican female footballer
- John John Molina (Juan Molina) (born 1965), Puerto Rican boxer
- John Molina, Jr. (born 1982), American boxer
- Jorge Molina (born 1966), Cuban film director
- Jorge Molina (born 1982), Spanish footballer
- José Angel Molina (born 1958), Puerto Rican boxer
- José Antonio Molina Rosito (1926–2012), Honduran botanist (Ant.Molina)
- José Molina (born 1975), Puerto Rican baseball player
- José Domingo Molina Gómez (1896–1969), interim President of Argentina 1955
- José Francisco Molina (born 1970), Spanish football player
- Juan Francisco de Molina (1779–1878), First President of Independent Honduras
- Juan Ignacio Molina (1740–1829), Chilean priest and naturalist
- Juan Manuel Molina (born 1979), Spanish race walker
- Juana Molina (born 1962), Argentine singer, songwriter, and actress
- Justo Páez Molina (1902–1969), Argentine politician, Governor of Córdoba 1963–1966
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- Laura Molina (badminton) (contemporary), Spanish badminton player
- Laura Molina (born 1957), American artist
- Lauren Molina (born 1981), American actress, singer, songwriter
- Luis de Molina (1535–1600), Spanish Jesuit priest and theologian
- Luis Molina (boxer) (1938–2013), American boxer
- Luis Molina (rugby player) (born 1959), Argentine rugby union player
- Luis Manuel Molina (born 1959), Cuban musician, composer and broadcaster
- Luis Molina (baseball) (born 1974), Nicaraguan baseball coach
- Luis Pedro Molina (born 1977), Guatemalan football goalkeeper
- Luis Molina (athlete) (born 1988), Argentine athlete
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Fictional characters
See also
References
- ^ p. 164 in Gutierre Tibón, Diccionario etimológico comparado de los apellidos españoles, hispanoamericanos y filipinos ('Comparative Etymological Dictionary of Spanish, Hispanic American and Filipino Surnames'), Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico City, February 1995 as a reprint of 2nd Edition from 1992 (1st Edition: 1988, Editorial Diana); 434 pp., ISBN 968-16-3714-3
- ^ "Molina" surname datasheet in the official genealogical and heraldic «Andalucía GenWeb» website, from «Darrax Cultura y Comunicación», Málaga, Andalusia. (in Spanish)
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