The surname of Vargas is a Spanish and Portuguese name from old nobility with two branches, de Vargas and de Vargas-Machuca. Both Spanish and Portuguese, the name Vargas came from the Vargas region which is in Santander province of Spain. The term vargas (the plural of varga), ‘thatched hut’, a ‘steep slope’, or a ‘fenced pastureland which becomes waterlogged in winter’. The surname can have ‘de’ in front, such as: de Vargas.

Spain and Portugal are the places of origin for individuals with the Vargas surname.
In England the areas of Berkshire and London have some Vargas families.
Two states with a good number Vargas family members are California and Texas.

Vargas families were farmers and laborers during the 1880s.

Famous: Andrés de Vargas (17th century painter), Fred Vargas (her real name is Frédérique Audouin-Rouzeau and works as a Medieval historian and archaeologist as well as a French writer), Mary de Belle Vargas (an armless artist), Oscar Vargas (Panamanian footballer), Claudio Vargas (professional baseball pitcher for Milwaukee Brewers team), Elizabeth Vargas (TV news broadcaster and reporter), Valentina Vargas (Chilean actress) and Debbie Green-Vargas (women's volleyball player and winner of silver medal in 1984 Olympics).