Is Espinosa a Mexican surname

Answer 1

Yers, Espinosa can be a Jewish surname but it is not always a Jewish surname. The name Espinosa can be Sephardic and often belongs to a Jewish family with origins in Spain or Portugal or who resided in Latin America. The family could also have been moranos/conversos, meaning they were Jews who chose to convert to Catholocism rather than be killed or forcebly deported during the Spanish inquisition. By choosing a more Spanish sounding surname (and they did have a choice; Jews at this time often did not have last names) they would escape further persecution from their Christian neighbors who may suspect them of not being proper Catholics.