MIRANDA Family History

This is a locational name recorded in the spellings of Miranda, Mirando, and Amiranda. It can be from any of the various places called 'Miranda' in Spain, Catalonia, and Portugal. The placename and hence the surname, derives from the Roman (Latin) "mirandus" meaning "wondrous" or "lovely", but in the context of a village translates as "the admired place". It is also possible that in some instances the surname derives from the north eastern Spanish "miralla" meaning a watchtower or look out post.