The Spanish and Portuguese surname, Melendez comes from an Old German (Visigothic) and Latin term ‘hermenegild’ which meant whole or entire and tribute present. The spelling variations for Melendez include Menendez, Mendez, Menez, Melendez and Menendez. In England the Melendez surname was mainly in the city of London and Hampshire County in the southern coast. Within the United States the Melendez family name is found in New Mexico, Alabama, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York. Famous: Flor Melendez (professional basketball player and a basketball coach from Puerto Rico ), Luis Antonio Melendez (professional baseball player), Elizabeth Melendez (actress and model), Luis Egidio Melendez (18th century artist), Jack “Moody” Melendez (a wrestling sportscaster), Lisette Melendez (singer), John “Stuttering John” Edward Melendez (television writer and personality on the radio), Bill Melendez (film director and producer and animator for cartoons) and Gilbert Melendez (champion martial arts fighter).