List of Spaniards

This list, in alphabetical order within categories, of notable hispanic people of Spanish heritage and descent born and raised in Spain, or of direct Spanish descent.

''Note: The same person may appear under several headings.''

Actors

Artists

David Aja, comics artist
Leonardo Alenza, Romantic painter
Hermenegildo Anglada, Catalan modernist painter
Alonso Berruguete, Spanish Renaissance painter and sculptor
Pedro Berruguete, Spanish Renaissance painter
Aureliano de Beruete, painter
Felipe Bigarny, Spanish Renaissance sculptor
María Blanchard, Cubist painter
Lita Cabellut, painter
Eugenio Cajés, Baroque painter
Alonso Cano, Baroque painter
Juan Caro de Tavira, painter
Juan Carreño de Miranda, Baroque painter
Ramon Casas, Catalan Modernist painter
Antonio del Castillo, Baroque painter
Charris, painter
Chumy Chúmez, cartoonist
José de Creeft, Modernist sculptor and teacher
Claudio Coello, Baroque painter
Anabel Colazo, illustrator and cartoonist
Luis de la Cruz y Ríos Spanish painter
Salvador Dalí, Surrealist artist
Óscar Domínguez, Surrealist artist
Antonio María Esquivel, Romantic painter
Joaquim Espalter, Orientalist painter
Gregorio Fernández, Baroque sculptor
Pasqual Ferry, comics artist
Marià Fortuny, Romantic painter
Pablo Gargallo, Cubist sculptor
Antoni Gaudí, Catalan Modernist architect and sculptor
Francisco de Goya, Romantic painter and engraver
Julio González, Cubist sculptor
Eugenio Granell, Surrealist painter
El Greco, Spanish Renaissance painter and sculptor
Juan Gris, Cubist painter
Carlos de Haes, Realist painter
Francisco Herrera the Elder, painter
Francisco Herrera the Younger, painter and architect
Juan de Juanes, Spanish Renaissance painter
Antonio López, Realist painter and sculptor
José de Madrazo, Neoclassical painter
Juan Bautista Maíno, Baroque painter
Maruja Mallo, Surrealist painter
Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, Baroque painter
Pedro de Mena, Baroque sculptor
Joaquin Mir, Catalan Modernist painter
Joan Miró, Surrealist painter, sculptor and ceramist
Juan Fernández Navarrete, Spanish Renaissance painter
Isidre Nonell, Modernist painter
Darío de Regoyos, Impressionist painter
Jusepe de Ribera, Baroque painter
Lluís Rigalt, Romantic painter
Diego de Siloé, Spanish Renaissance architect and sculptor
Joaquín Sorolla, Impressionist painter
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Baroque painter
Pilar Nouvilas i Garrigolas, Spanish painter
Bartolomé Ordóñez, Spanish Renaissance sculptor
Pedro Orrente, Baroque painter
Rodrigo de Osona, Spanish Renaissance painter
Carlos Pacheco, comics artist
Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, painter
Laura Pérez Vernetti, cartoonist and illustrator
Pablo Picasso, painter and sculptor, co-founder of Cubism
Francesc Ribalta, Baroque painter
Luisa Roldán, Baroque sculptor
Pedro Roldán, Baroque sculptor
Julio Romero de Torres, Symbolist painter
Eduardo Rosales, Purist painter
Santiago Rusiñol, Catalan Modernist painter and poet
Alonso Sánchez Coello, Spanish Renaissance painter
Juan Sánchez Cotán, Baroque painter
Antoni Tàpies, abstract Expressionist painter
Trini Tinturé, cartoonist and illustrator
Luis Tristán, Spanish Renaissance painter
Juan de Valdés Leal, Baroque painter
Juan Van der Hamen, Romantic painter
Eugenio Lucas Velázquez, Romantic painter
Diego Velázquez, Baroque painter
Jenaro Pérez Villaamil, painter
Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, Spanish Renaissance painter
Ignacio Zuloaga, painter
Francisco de Zurbarán, Baroque painter

Explorers and conquerors

Lope de Aguirre, soldier and adventurer, explored the Amazon River looking for El Dorado
Diego de Almagro, explorer and conquistador, first European in Chile
Luis de Moscoso Alvarado, explorer and conquistador.
Juan Bautista de Anza, soldier and explorer, founded San Francisco, California
Sebastián de Belalcázar, first explorer in search of El Dorado in 1535 and conqueror of Ecuador and southern Colombia, founded Quito 1534, Cali 1536, Pasto 1537, and Popayán 1537
Fray Tomás de Berlanga, bishop of Panama, discovered the Galápagos Islands
Juan Bermúdez, explorer and skier, discovered the Bermuda Islands
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, first European to explore the southwestern of what is now the United States, also explored South America
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, explorer, discovered California
Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, explorer and one of the four last survivors of the Narváez expedition.
Gabriel de Castilla, sailor; in 1603 he became probably the first man ever to sight Antarctica
Cosme Damián Churruca, explorer, astronomer and naval officer, mapped the Strait of Magellan
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, explored New Mexico and other parts of the southwest of what is now the United States
Hernán Cortés, conquistador of the Aztec Empire, explorer of Baja California Peninsula
Juan Sebastián Elcano, explorer and sailor, first man to circumnavigate the world
Gaspar de Espinosa, soldier and explorer, first European to reach the coast of Nicaragua, co-founder of Panama City
Diego Duque de Estrada, soldier, explorer, writer
Salvador Fidalgo, naval officer and cartographer, explored Alaska in 1790, he named Cordova, Port Gravina, and Valdez
Miguel López de Legazpi, explored and conquered the Philippine Islands in 1565
Vasco Núñez de Balboa, first European to sight the Pacific Ocean, founder of Darién
Francisco de Orellana, first European to explore the Amazon River
Pedrarias Dávila, conquistador, founder of Panama and governor of Nicaragua
Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of the Inca Empire in Peru
Juan Ponce de León, first European to explore Florida ; founded the first European settlement in Puerto Rico
Alonso del Castillo Maldonado, explorer and one of the four last survivors of the Narváez expedition.
Gaspar de Portolà, explorer, founder of Monterey, California
Bartolomé Ruiz, first European to explore Ecuador; pilot for Pizarro and Columbus
Hernando de Soto, explorer and conquistador, first European to explore the plains of eastern North America; discovered the Mississippi River and the Ohio River
Pedro de Valdivia, conquistador of Chile, founder of Santiago, Concepción, and Valdivia
Pedro de los Ríos y Gutiérrez de Aguayo, Royal Spanish governor of Castilla del Oro
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, explorer and sailor, first European to reach the coast of Brazil
Amaro Rodríguez Felipe, pirate
Isabel de Urquiola, explorer

Film directors

Leaders and politicians

Medieval ancestors

Liuvigild was a Visigothic king of Hispania and Septimania from 567 to 586.
Pelayo of Asturias, founding king of the Kingdom of Asturias
Abd-ar-Rahman III, Emir and Caliph of Córdoba
Al-Mansur, de facto ruler of Muslim Al-Andalus in late 10th and early 11th centuries
Alfonso X of Castile

Modern

Isabella of Castile, the Catholic, Queen of Castile and León
Ferdinand II, the Catholic, King of Aragon, Castile and León, Sicily, Naples and Valencia
Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, cardinal, statesman, and regent of Spain
Juana of Castile, frequently called "the Mad", queen of Castile and León; daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, ruler of the Burgundian territories, King of Spain, King of Naples and Sicily, Archduke of Austria, King of the Romans (or German King); often referred to as "Carlos V", but he ruled officially as "Carlos I", hence "Charles I of Spain"
Philip II, King of Spain
Philip V, King of Spain
Charles III, King of Spain
Ferdinand VII, King of Spain
Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria Ríos, First Secretary of State of the Kingdom from 1792 to 1797, 1st Prince of the Peace, 1st Duke of Alcudia, 1st Duke of Sueca, 1st Baron of Mascalbó
Manuel de Aróstegui Sáenz de Olamendi, liberal Spanish politician

Contemporary

Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris,, general and Prime Minister ; 1st Duke of Tetuán
Juan Prim, general, liberal leader, revolutionary and statesman
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Prime Minister
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, eight times Prime Minister
Fernando de los Ríos Urruti was a Minister of Justice, Minister of State, and a Spanish Politician.
20th and 21st centuries:
*Manuel Azaña, Premier and President during the Second Spanish Republic
*José María Aznar, Prime Minister
*Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament
*Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, Prime Minister
*Santiago Carrillo, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain from 1960 to 1982
*Buenaventura Durruti, anarchist leader
*Francisco Franco, Army general and president, ruled Spain for 36 years as "Caudillo"
*María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician and the first female Vice President
*Felipe González, Prime Minister
*Sara Giménez Giménez, president, Fundación Secretariado Gitano
*Dolores Ibárruri, known as "La Pasionaria", leader of the Spanish Civil War and communist politician
*Eugenio Montero Ríos Spanish Prime Minister and President of the Senate of Spain.
*Juan Carlos I, King of Spain
*Federica Montseny, Minister of Health and anarchist - first woman to be a minister in Spanish History
*José Antonio Primo de Rivera
*Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister
*Rodrigo Rato, managing director of the IMF since 2004
*Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Defence
*Benjamín Rubio, trade unionist
*Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister
*Ana Sigüenza, general secretary of the CNT and anarchist - first woman to be secretary general of a national trade union centre in Spain
*Adolfo Suárez, Prime Minister
*Javier Solana, Secretary General of NATO and High Representative of the CFSP of the Council of the European Union
*
*José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister
*Felipe VI, King of Spain since 2014

Literature

Rafael Alberti, poet, Cervantes Prize laureate
Vicente Aleixandre, poet, Nobel Prize laureate
Concepción Arenal, writer and feminist
Matilde Asensi, writer
Lola Badia, philologist, medievalist
Elia Barceló, writer
Pío Baroja, novelist of the Generation of '98
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, romantic poet and tale writer
Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, poet
Antonio Buero Vallejo, playwright of the Generation of '36
Carmen de Burgos, writer and journalist
Fernán Caballero, writer and novelist
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, playwright and poet of the Spanish Golden Age
Clara Campoamor, essayist and politician
Victoria Camps, essayist and philosopher
Inmaculada Casal, journalist and television presenter
Sofía Casanova, novelist, poet and journalist
Rosalía de Castro, romanticist and poet
Camilo José Cela, novelist, Nobel Prize laureate
Miguel de Cervantes, novelist, poet and playwright, author of Don Quixote
Rosa Chacel, writer, poet and essayist
Carmen Conde Abellán, writer
Carolina Coronado, poet
Miguel Delibes, novelist, Cervantes Prize laureate
María Dueñas, writer and professor
José Echegaray, dramatist, Nobel Prize laureate
Concha Espina, poet, writer and journalist
Cristina Fernández Cubas, writer and journalist
Amanda Figueras, journalist and writer
Gloria Fuertes, poet and writer
Federico García Lorca, poet and dramatist of the Generation of '27
Alicia Giménez Bartlett, writer
Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, writer
Luis de Góngora, lyric poet considered to be among the most prominent Spanish poets of all time
Almudena Grandes, writer
Jorge Guillén, poet, Cervantes Prize laureate, four-time Nobel Prize nominee
Juan Ramón Jiménez, poet, Nobel Prize laureate
John of the Cross, mystic poet
Carmen Laforet, writer
María de la O Lejárraga, feminist writer, dramatist, translator and politician
María Teresa León, writer and novelist
Elvira Lindo, writer and journalist
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, main figure of the Spanish Age of Enlightenment, philosopher, statesman, poet and essayist
Antonio Machado, leading poet of the Generation of '98
Salvador de Madariaga, essayist and two-time Nobel Prize nominee
Jorge Manrique, major Castilian poet
Juan Marsé, novelist and Cervantes prize laureate
Carmen Martín Gaite, writer
Ana María Matute, writer
Eduardo Mendoza, novelist and Cervantes prize laureate
Sara Mesa, writer
María Moliner, librarian and lexicographer
Rosa Montero, writer and journalist
Cristina Morales, writer
Juliana Morell, poet and humanist
Julia Navarro, writer
Margarita Nelken, writer, essayist and feminist
Emilia Pardo Bazán, writer of prose and poetry who introduced naturalism and feminist ideas to Spanish literature
Ánxeles Penas, poet
Benito Pérez Galdós, realist novelist considered by some to be second only to Cervantes in stature as a Spanish novelist
Arturo Pérez-Reverte, best-selling novelist and journalist, member of the Royal Spanish Academy
Marta Pessarrodona, Spanish poet, literary critic, essayist, biographer
Francesc Pi i Margall, romanticist writer who was briefly president of the short-lived First Spanish Republic
Berta Piñán, writer, poet, politician
Francisco de Quevedo, novelist, essayist and poet, master of Conceptism
Carme Riera, novelist and essayist
Mercedes Salisachs, writer
Clara Sánchez, writer
Marta Sanz, writer
Enrique Tierno Galván, essayist and lawyer who served as Mayor of Madrid from 1979 to 1986
Josefina de la Torre, writer
Àxel Torres, sports journalist
Maruja Torres, journalist and writer
Esther Tusquets, writer
Miguel de Unamuno, Basque essayist, novelist, poet, playwright, philosopher, professor of Greek and Classics, and later rector at the University of Salamanca
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, radical dramatist, novelist and member of the Generation of '98
Garcilaso de la Vega, Renaissance poet who was influential in introducing Italian Renaissance verse forms, poetic techniques, and themes to Spain
"El Inca" Garcilaso de la Vega, born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, first mestizo author in Spanish language, known for his chronicles of Inca history
Félix Lope de Vega, one of the key literary figures of the Spanish Golden Age
María Zambrano, writer and philosopher
María de Zayas y Sotomayor, female novelist of the Spanish Golden Age, and one of the first Spanish feminist authors

Military

3rd Duke of Alba, general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands
Diego García de Paredes, soldier and duellist, he never commanded an army or rose to the position of a general, but he was a notable figure in the wars, when personal prowess had still a considerable share in deciding combat.
Diego de los Ríos Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines
Don Juan de Austria, general and admiral; defeated Müezzinzade Ali Pasha in the Battle of Lepanto (1571)
Blas de Lezo, admiral; leading 6 warships and 3.700 men, defeated a British invasion force of 28.000 troops and 186 warships, during the Siege of Cartagena in 1741
Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz, admiral
Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén, general; he defeated Dupont in the Battle of Bailén
El Cid, knight and hero
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, "El Gran Capitán", general and strategist of Early modern warfare
Luis de Córdova y Córdova, admiral. During the Anglo-Spanish War captured two merchant convoys totalling 79 ships.
Francisco Franco, general; from 1939 caudillo and formal Head of State of Spain
Manuel Alberto Freire de Andrade y Armijo, Spanish cavalry officer and general officer during the Peninsular War, and later Defense Minister
Bernardo de Gálvez, Field Marshal and governor of Louisiana, Spanish hero of the American Revolution
Juan Martín Díez, "El Empecinado", head of guerrilla bands promoted to Brigadier-General of cavalry during the Peninsular War
Casto Méndez Núñez, admiral
Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto, prominent general
Álvaro de Navia Osorio y Vigil, Marqués de Santa Cruz de Marcenado,, general, author of the treatise Reflexiones Militares
Pablo Morillo y Morillo, Count of Cartagena and Marquess of La Puerta, a.k.a. El Pacificador was a Spanish general who fought in the napoleonic wars and hispanoamerican war of independence.
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, Spanish general and military governor of the Spanish Netherlands
Francisco Pérez de Grandallana, brigadier of the Royal Spanish Navy
Ambrosio Spinola, marqués de los Balbases, general
Fernando Villaamil, naval officer, designer of the first destroyer

Models

Musicians

Classical

Isaac Albéniz, composer
Salvador Bacarisse, composer
Pablo Casals, cello player and conductor
Juan de Espinosa, composer and music theorist
Manuel de Falla, composer
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Enrique Granados, composer
Enrique Jordá, conductor, music director of the San Francisco Symphony
Francisco Lara, composer and conductor
Alicia de Larrocha, pianist
Vicente Martín y Soler, composer
Sofía Noel, Belgian-born soprano and ethnomusicologist
Luis de Pablo, composer
Blas de Laserna, composer
María Teresa Oller, composer and folklorist
Eugenia Osterberger, Galician pianist and composer
Joaquín Rodrigo, composer and pianist, known for his Concierto de Aranjuez
Gaspar Sanz, composer, dominate figure of Spanish baroque music
Jordi Savall, early and baroque music conductor and viol player
Andrés Segovia, classical guitarist
Ángel Sola, bandurrista
Antonio Soler, composer, known for his harpsichord sonatas
Francisco Tárrega, composer and classical guitarist
Joaquín Turina, composer
Tomás Luis de Victoria, most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain
Paco de Lucía, flamenco guitarist and composer; regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest living guitarist of the flamenco genre

Opera singers

Victoria de los Ángeles, soprano
Maite Arruabarrena, mezzo-soprano
Ainhoa Arteta, soprano
Teresa Berganza, mezzo-soprano
Montserrat Caballé, soprano
Avelina Carrera, soprano from Barcelona
Nancy Fabiola Herrera, mezzo-soprano
José Carreras, one of The Three Tenors
Antonio Cortis, tenor
Plácido Domingo, one of The Three Tenors
Manuel del Pópulo Vicente García, tenor
María Gay, mezzo-soprano
Alfredo Kraus, tenor
Hipólito Lázaro, tenor
Carlos Marín, baritone, member of operatic quartet Il Divo
María José Montiel, mezzo-soprano
María Orán, soprano
Adelina Patti, coloratura soprano
Conchita Supervía, mezzo-soprano
Francisco Viñas, tenor

Singers

Edward Aguilera, Menudo singer
Dolores Agujetas, flamenco singer
Alaska, pop-rock singer
Pablo Alborán, singer
Eva Amaral, pop and folk rock singer
Ana Belén, singer and actress
David Bisbal, singer-songwriter
Miguel Bosé, pop singer
Nino Bravo, singer
Camarón de la Isla, flamenco singer, real name José Monje Cruz
Luz Casal, pop singer
Estrellita Castro, singer and actress
Montse Cortés, flamenco singer
Rocío Dúrcal, singer
Manolo Escobar, singer
Manolo García, singer-songwriter
Enrique Iglesias, pop singer
Julio Iglesias, singer
Antonio José, singer
Rocío Jurado, singer
Gloria Lasso, singer
Lola Flores, singer and flamenco dancer
Lolita Flores, singer and actress
Dani Martín, singer
Víctor Manuel, singer
Shakira, singer
Abraham Mateo , singer
Alba Molina, Flamenco singer
Amaia Montero pop singer
Lola Montes,, Spanish singer
Sara Montiel, singer and actress, real name María Antonia Abad
Carlos Núñez, bagpipes and Galician (Celtic) music performer
Aitana Ocaña Morales, spanish singer-songwriter
Amaia Romero,spanish singer-songwriter
Paloma San Basilio, singer
Jordi Savall, film music composer
José Luis Perales, singer
Camilo Sesto, singer
Isabel Pantoja, singer
Niña Pastori,, flamenco singer
José Luis Perales, singer
Raphael, pop singer
Rosalía, singer-songwriter
Joaquín Sabina, singer-songwriter
Marta Sanchez, singer-songwriter
Alejandro Sanz, pop singer
Joan Manuel Serrat, Catalan singer-songwriter
Chanel Terrero, singer
Ana Torroja, pop rock singer
Enrique Urquijo, founder of the band Los Secretos with his brother Álvaro, lead voice and composer

Philosophers and humanists

Alfonso X of Castile, "El Sabio"
Francisco de Enzinas, humanist and translator of the New Testament
Francisco Giner de los Ríos, philosopher, educator and one of the most influential Spanish intellectuals at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
Baltasar Gracián, author of El Criticón, influenced European philosophers such as Schopenhauer
Bartolomé de Las Casas, humanist, advocate of the rights of Native Americans
Ramon Llull, philosopher, theologian, poet, missionary, and Christian apologist from the Kingdom of Majorca. Inventor of a philosophical system known as the Art and a precursor of the computer, pioneer of computation theory.
Salvador de Madariaga, humanist, co-founder of the College of Europe
Gregorio Marañón, humanist and medical scientist, important intellectual of the 20th century in Spain
Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo, philologist, historian and erudite
Julián Marías, philosopher; wrote the History of Philosophy
Ramón Menéndez Pidal, philologist, historian and erudite member of Generation of '98
Antonio de Nebrija, scholar, published the first grammar of the Spanish language, which was the first grammar produced of any Romance language
Rocío Orsi, philosopher, professor
José Ortega y Gasset, philosopher, social and political thinker, author of The Revolt of the Masses
Bernardino de Sahagún, Franciscan missionary, researched Nahua culture and Nahuatl language and compiled an unparalleled work in Spanish and Náhuatl
George Santayana, philosopher, taught at Harvard, author of The Sense of Beauty and The Life of Reason
Fernando Savater, philosopher and essayist, known for his writings on ethics
Francisco Suárez, one of the most influential scholastics after Thomas Aquinas
Miguel de Unamuno, existentialist writer and literary theoretician
Juan Luis Vives, prominent figure of Renaissance humanism, taught at Leuven and Oxford
Xavier Zubiri, philosopher, critic of classical metaphysics

Religion

Maria Pilar Bruguera Sábat, Roman Catholic nun and physician
Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, religious reformer, bishop, cardinal and statesman
St Dominic of Guzmán, founder of the Order of Preachers
St Isidore of Seville, bishop, humanist and doctor of the Church
St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus
St John of Avila, priest, preacher, theologian and mystic
St John of the Cross, mystic and monastic reformer, doctor of the Church
Saints Nunilo and Alodia, child martyrs
Vicente Enrique y Tarancón, bishop, cardinal and president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference
St Teresa of Avila, mystic and monastic reformer, doctor of the Church
Tomás de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor
St Joaquina Vedruna, founder of the Carmelite Sisters of the Charity
St Vincent Martyr, deacon martyr
St. Toribio de Mogrovejo, prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Lima from 1579 until his death
St Francis Xavier, missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus
Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, missionary in Guatemala
José de Anchieta, missionary in Brazil; founder of city São Paulo and co-founder of city Rio de Janeiro
Bernardo de Alderete, canon of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
Ángela María de la Concepción, nun, mystical writer, and reformer; founder of Monasterio de las trinitarias de El Toboso and of the Trinitarias contemplativas

Science and technology

José de Acosta, one of the first naturalists and anthropologists of the Americas
Alex Aguilar, professor of Animal Biology at the University of Barcelona
Susana Agustí, biological oceanographer, educator
José María Algué, meteorologist, inventor of the barocyclometer, the nephoscope, and the microseismograph
Rafael Alvarado Ballester
Jerónimo de Ayanz y Beaumont, registered design for steam-powered water pump for use in mines
Francisco Javier de Balmis, physician, leader of the first international vaccination campaign in history
Ignacio Barraquer, leading ophthalmologist, pioneer of cataract surgery
José Ignacio Barraquer, leading ophthalmologist, father of modern refractive surgery; invented the microkeratome and the cryolathe, developed the surgical procedures of keratomileusis and keratophakia
Agustín de Betancourt, engineer, worked in many rangs from steam engines and balloons to structural engineering and supervised the planning and construction of Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Nizhny Novgorod, and other Russian cities
Pino Caballero Gil, computer scientist
Ángel Cabrera, naturalist, investigated South American fauna
Blas Cabrera, physicist, worked in the domain of experimental physics with focus in the magnetic properties of matter
Nicolás Cabrera, physicist, did important work on the theories of crystal growth and the oxidisation of metals
Santiago Calatrava, architect, sculptor and structural engineer
Pedro Carlos Cavadas Rodríguez, pioneering surgeon
Juan de la Cierva, aeronautical engineer, pioneer of flying with rotary wings, inventor of the autogyro
Juan Ignacio Cirac Sasturain, one of the pioneers of the field of quantum computing and quantum information theory
Josep Comas i Solà, astronomer, discovered the periodic comet 32P/Comas Solá and 11 asteroids, and in 1907 observed limb darkening of Saturn's moon Titan
Jerónimo Cortés, mathematician, astronomer, naturalist and Valencian compiler
Carmen Domínguez, glaciologist
Pedro Duque, astronaut and veteran of two space missions
Fausto de Elhúyar, chemist, joint discoverer of tungsten with his brother Juan José de Elhúyar in 1783
Bernardo Hernández, entrepreneur, leading figure in technology
Francisco Hernández, botanicist, carried out important research about the Mexican flora
Jorge Juan y Santacilia, mathematician and naval officer. Determined that the Earth is not perfectly spherical but is oblat. Also measured the heights of the Andes mountains using a barometer.
Carlos Jiménez Díaz, doctor and researcher, leading figure in pathology
Asunción Linares, paleontologist
Gregorio Marañón, doctor and researcher, leading figure in endocrinology
Rafael Mas Hernández, geographer
Narcís Monturiol, physicist and inventor, pioneer of underwater navigation and first machine powered submarine
José Celestino Bruno Mutis, botanicist, doctor, philosopher and mathematician, carried out relevant research about the American flora, founded one of the first astronomic observatories in America
Severo Ochoa, doctor and biochemist, achieved the synthesis of ribonucleic acid, Nobel prize laureate
Mateu Orfila, doctor and chemist, father of modern toxicology, leading figure in forensic toxicology
Joan Oró, biochemist, carried out important research about the origin of life, he worked with NASA on the Viking missions
Isaac Peral, engineer and sailor, designer of the first fully operative military submarine
Santiago Ramón y Cajal, father of Neuroscience, Nobel prize laureate
Julio Rey Pastor, mathematician, leading figure in geometry
Wifredo Ricart, engineer, designer and executive manager in the automotive industry
Andrés Manuel del Río, geologist and chemist, discovered vanadium in 1801
Pío del Río Hortega, neuroscientist, discoverer of the microglia or Hortega cell
Josef de Mendoza y Ríos was a Spanish astronomer and mathematician of the 18th century, famous for his work on navigation.
Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, naturalist, leading figure in ornithology, ethology, ecology and science divulgation
Enrique Rojas Montes
Margarita Salas, biochemist, molecular geneticist and researcher
Miguel Sarrias Domingo was medical director of the Institut Guttmann in Barcelona.
Miguel Servet, scientist, surgeon and humanist; first European to describe pulmonary circulation
María Dolores Soria, paleontologist, researcher, professor, and biologist
Esteban Terradas i Illa, mathematician, physicist and engineer
Leonardo Torres Quevedo, engineer and computer scientist, pioneer of automated calculation machines, inventor of El Ajedrecista, pioneer of radio control, designer of the three-lobed non-rigid Astra-Torres airship and the funicular over the Niagara Falls
Eduardo Torroja, civil engineer, structural architect, world-famous specialist in concrete structures
Josep Trueta, doctor, his new method for treatment of open wounds and fractures helped save many lives during World War II
Antonio de Ulloa, scientist, soldier and author; joint discoverer of element platinum with Jorge Juan y Santacilia
Arnold of Villanova, alchemist and physician, he discovered carbon monoxide and pure alcohol

Social scientists

Gurutzi Arregi, Basque ethnographer
Martín de Azpilicueta, economist, member of the School of Salamanca, precursor of the quantitative theory of money
Mercedes Bengoechea, feminist sociolinguist, professor
Agustín Blánquez Fraile, sociologist, author of trilogy The Information Age
María Ángeles Durán, sociologist and economist
Manuel Fernández López
Salvador Giner, sociologist, he had researched on social theory, sociology of culture and modern industrial society
Jesús Huerta de Soto, major Austrian School economist
Juan José Linz, Sterling Professor of Political and Social Science at Yale; Prince of Asturias Award and Johan Skytte Prize laureate
Pilar Acosta Martínez, prehistorian and archeologist
Patricia Mayayo, art historian
Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz, historian, prominent specialist in medieval Spanish history
Juan Uría Ríu, historian
Joseph de la Vega, businessman, wrote Confusion of Confusions, first book on stock markets
Francisco de Vitoria, member of the School of Salamanca, precursor of international law theory

Sports

Athletics

Ruth Beitia,, women's high jump gold medalist at the 2016 Olympics
Fermín Cacho Ruiz, 1500 metres gold and silver medalist
Daniel Plaza, 20 km race walk gold medalist

Basketball

Antonio Díaz-Miguel, coach, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997
Pau Gasol, FC Barcelona and Los Angeles Lakers player, 2001–02 NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner; 2006 FIBA W.C. MVP
Marc Gasol, player for Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors
Fernando Martín, Estudiantes, Real Madrid and Portland Trail Blazers player
Jan Martín, German-Israeli-Spanish basketball player
Juan Carlos Navarro, FC Barcelona and Memphis Grizzlies player

Boxing

Pedro Carrasco, 1967 European Lightweight Champion; 1971 WBC's World Lightweight Champion
Javier Castillejo, two-time WBC World Jr. Middleweight Champion and one-time WBA Middleweight champion

MMA

Ilia Topuria - UFC Former featherweight world champion and current lightweight world champion.

Cycling

Federico Martín Bahamontes, 1959 Tour de France winner
Alberto Contador, three-time Tour de France, 2008 Giro d'Italia, 2008 Vuelta a España winner
Pedro Delgado, 1988 Tour de France winner
Óscar Freire, three-time World Cycling Champion
José Manuel Fuente, twice Vuelta a España winner, second in Giro d'Italia, third in Tour de France
Roberto Heras, three-time Vuelta a España winner
Miguel Indurain, gold medalist, 1995 World Time-Trial Champion, World Hour recordman, five consecutive times Tour de France winner, twice Giro d'Italia winner
Joan Llaneras, gold medalist, silver medalist, seven-time World Points race or Madison Track Cycling Champion
Luis Ocaña, 1973 Tour de France winner
Abraham Olano, 1995 World Cycling Champion and 1998 World Time-Trial Champion
Óscar Pereiro, 2006 Tour de France winner
Samuel Sánchez, Beijing 2008 Olympic Road Race Gold Medal
Carlos Sastre, 2008 Tour de France winner
Joane Somarriba, three-time Grande Boucle winner
Guillermo Timoner, six-time World Motor paced Track Cycling Champion

Football (soccer)

Paulino Alcántara Football legend and FC Barcelona player and manager
Iker Casillas, goalkeeper and Real Madrid; captain of Spain's team that won UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012
Francisco Gento, Real Madrid player; winner of six UEFA Champions League
Raúl González, first player to reach 50 goals in UEFA Champions League
Xavi Hernández, midfielder and FC Barcelona player; UEFA Euro 2008 MVP
Andrés Iniesta, midfielder and FC Barcelona player; scored the winning goal at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final; UEFA Euro 2012 MVP
Alexia Putellas, FC Barcelona Femení midfielder and two-time Ballon d'Or Féminin winner
Fernando Torres, striker and Chelsea player; scored the winning goal at the Euro 2008 Final; winner of Golden Boot at Euro 2012
David Villa, striker and FC Barcelona player; Spain's all-time top goalscorer
Andoni Zubizarreta, Spanish international
Gerard Piqué, central defender for FC Barcelona and Spain; part of the national team that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012
Pako Ayestarán, football manager known for his roles at Liverpool F.C. and Valencia CF

Golf

Severiano Ballesteros, winner of five major championships
Sergio García, winner of a major championship
Miguel Ángel Jiménez, winner of 13 European Tour titles winner
José María Olazábal, winner of two major championships
Jon Rahm, the first Spanish golfer to win the US Open and winner of 12 other tournaments

Motor sports

Fernando Alonso, 2005 and 2006 Formula One List of [Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Champion]
Jaime Alguersuari, 2008 British Formula Three champion
Álvaro Bautista, motorcycle racing raider, 125cc champion of the World in 2006
Carlos Checa, GP motorcycle racing rider and Superbike World Champion in 2011
Marc Coma, won the Dakar Rally in 2006
Àlex Crivillé, 500cc GP motorcycle racing World Champion in 1999
Marc Gené, Formula One driver
Jorge Lorenzo, 2006 and 2007 GP motorcycle racing 250cc World Champion, 2010, 2012, and 2015 MotoGP World Champion
Marc Márquez, Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, and is the 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 Moto GP World Champion
Jorge Martínez Aspar, GP motorcycle racing rider, four-time World Champion
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa, Formula One driver
Ángel Nieto, GP motorcycle racing rider, 12+1 times World Champion
Daniel Pedrosa, youngest GP motorcycle racing World Champion of 125cc and 250cc
Carlos Sainz, 1990 and 1992 World Rally Champion and 4-times Dakar Rally winner
Carlos Sainz Jr., Formula One driver

Rugby union

Oriol Ripol, professional rugby union player for Worcester Warriors; considered the greatest Spaniard to ever play the game
Cédric Garcia, professional rugby player for Aviron Bayonnais

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, 5 Grand Slam titles winner and former World Number 1
Galo Blanco, professional tennis player
Sergi Bruguera, 1993 and 1994 French Open Men's Singles Champion
Àlex Corretja, 1998 ATP Tour World Champion
Albert Costa, 2002 French Open Men's Singles Champion
Juan Carlos Ferrero, 2003 French Open Men's Singles Champion, former World Number 1
Andrés Gimeno, 1972 French Open Men's Singles Champion
Conchita Martínez, 1994 Wimbledon Women's Singles Champion
Carlos Moyá, 1998 French Open Men's Singles Champion, former World Number 1
Garbiñe Muguruza, 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon Women's Singles Champion
Rafael Nadal, former World Number 1, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, 2008 Olympics and 2016 Olympics gold medallist
Manuel Orantes, 1975 U.S. Open Men's Singles Champion
Virginia Ruano Pascual, eight Grand Slam Doubles titles winner
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, ten Grand Slam titles winner, former World Number 1
Emilio Sánchez Vicario, three Grand Slam Doubles titles winner
Javier Sánchez Vicario, professional tennis player, brother of Aranxta
Manuel Santana, 5 Grand Slam titles winner
Fernando Verdasco Carmona, professional tennis player

Triathlon

Francisco Javier Gómez Noya, triathlon silver medalist; four times ITU Triathlon world champion

Others

Georgina Rodríguez, influencer
Graciano Canteli, diplomat
Charo, actress, singer, and flamenco guitarist, known for her TV appearances in the 1970s & 1980s
Carlos Dominguez Cidon, chef
Pilar Civeira, professor of medicine in Pamplona
Charo Sádaba, professor of advertising in Pamplona
María Josefa Cerrato Rodríguez, first woman veterinarian
José Andrés, chef
Ferran Adrià, chef
Joaquín Cortés, dancer
Lola Greco, dancer and choreographer
Rosario Hernández Diéguez, newspaper hawker and trade unionist
Juan March Ordinas, politician and businessman
Francisco Mesa, electrical engineer
Ana Morales, flamenco dancer and choreographer
Amancio Ortega Gaona, entrepreneur
Pepita de Oliva, dancer
Ana María Pérez del Campo, lawyer, feminist
Juan Pujol, alias Garbo, double agent who played a key role in the success of D-Day towards the end of World War II
Tamara Rojo, prima ballerina of the London's Royal Ballet ; Prince of Asturias Award of Arts laureate
Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira, woman who murdered her teenage daughter, conceived as a eugenics experiment
Diego Salcedo, first Spaniard killed by Puerto Rican Taínos
Elbira Zipitria, Spanish-Basque educator, promoter of the Basque language
Edmond de Bries, Spanish female impersonator, actor, and cuplé singer