The surname of Ortega comes from a Spanish term based on the Latin word of "Urtica" which means "nettle." The name also comes from ortega means ‘female black grouse’, from a Greek term ortyx means ‘quail’. It is also a place name from Ortega in a Coruña province of Spain.

Other spelling forms are Ortega, Ortegada, Ortegal, Hortega, Ortiga, Ortigueda, Ortigueira, Ortigosa and Orreaga. In Italian the Ortega name is and French it is .

The Ortega families originated from Spain, Mexico and Cuba. Very few individuals with the Ortega surname live in the United Kingdom. The southwest states with many Ortega families are California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

In the 1880s most Ortega families worked as laborers.

Famous: Katherine D. Ortega (38th treasurer of the United States from 1983 - 1989 and first female bank president in California), Jeannie Ortega (actress, dancer and songwriter), Joshua Ortega (American author, poet and journalist), Buck Ortega (professional football player with Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints), Kenny Ortega (American producer, director and choreographer), Jose F. Ortega (18th century soldier and early settler of California), Rafael Gomez Ortega (Spanish bullfighter of early 20th century) and Santos Ortega (actor).