The surname is Spanish. Its meanings refers to a geographical place in the Badajoz province called Alvarado in western Spain near the border with Portugal. This area was known for the many Spanish explorers, Cortes, Balboa, Hernando de Soto and Valdivia who originated from there.
The highest populated areas in United States with this surname are in Texas and California and some of the southwest states.

Most ancestral Alvarado families have worked as laborers and farmers. Famous: Pedro de Alvarado (Conqueror the Mayo Indian people, became governor of Guatemala and established a city there), Juan Francisco Velasco Alvarado was a general of Peru to led the country from 1968 to 1975) , Trini Alvarado (from Puerto Rico who became an actress), Don Alvarado (an actor), Linda Alvarado (businesswoman and owner of Colorado Rockies baseball team).