The Salazar surname is a Spanish name spelled also as "Salasar." The surname means "old hall." Putting the words ˜Sala" which means "hall" and "Zahar" which means old together creates the surname. A town in Castile, Spain originated the surname. Many with the Salazar surname came to the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries.

It is a common surname among the gypsies. It is believed that gypsies used to call themselves only by a first name and then decided to take surnames to add prestige to their families. They often chose surnames from among the oldest and most prestigious noble families, usually of Basque origin, so now it is common to find gypsies with the surname Salazar.

Salazar families originated from Spain. The occupation of laborers was the main work for Salazar families of the 1880s. In England, only the county of Lancashire has some with the Salazar name. States of Texas and New Mexico along the southern border of the United States have the larger populations of families.

Famous: Garcia de Salazar (a writer of the 14thcentury in Basque Country), Vicente L. Salazar (President of Ecuador in 1895), Alfonso de Salazar (16th century Spanish explorer to the Pacific Ocean and found the Marshall Islands), Abel Salazar (Portuguese physician, lecturer, researcher, writer and painter), Carlos G. Salazar (Argentine boxer), Jeff Salazar (professional baseball outfielder with the Arizona Diamondbacks), Ovidio Salazar (documentary filmmaker), Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (Prime Minister and Dictator of Portugal from 1932 to 1968) and Diego F. Salazar (Colombian weightlifter).