Paniagua


The surname Paniagua was first found in the mountainous regions of the ancient kingdom of Leon during the Middle Ages. The surname descends from Spanish and Portuguese ancestry and appears to be derived from a nickname. It was said that the status name for a servant who worked for his board and lodging. It was most likely a form of "Pan y agua," which means literally "bread and water." This nickname would have been applied to the medieval beggars or travelers who went from town to town, asking for bread and water at various monasteries and manors in exchange for laborious work.. Notable people with the name include: