Famous people named Muñoz

Puerto Rico's Muñoz family

Luis Muñoz Rivera (1859–1916) was a poet, journalist and politician who won autonomy for Puerto Rico from Spain in 1897 and later served as its resident commissioner in Washington. His son Luis Muñoz Marín (1898–1980) became the island's first democratically elected governor; San Juan's international airport bears his name.

Arts and letters

• Juan Muñoz (1953–2001), Spanish sculptor known for his groups of grey figures, shown at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2001.
• Mercedes Negrón Muñoz (1895–1973), Puerto Rican poet who wrote as Clara Lair.
• Amparo Muñoz (1954–2011), Spanish actress and the first Spaniard crowned Miss Universe, in 1974.

Writers, judges and sports stars

The Spanish novelist Antonio Muñoz Molina (born 1956), a member of the Royal Spanish Academy, won the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. Cecilia Muñoz-Palma (1913–2006) became the first woman on the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and the American policy adviser Cecilia Muñoz (born 1962) directed the White House Domestic Policy Council. Football has Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo Muñoz (born 1983), who won two Copas América. Puerto Rican jazz pianist Carli Muñoz (born 1948) toured with the Beach Boys, and the Chilean botanist Carlos Muñoz Pizarro (1913–1976) catalogued his country's flora in several standard reference works.

Sport and diplomacy

• Anthony Muñoz (born 1958), Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Heraldo Muñoz (born 1948), Chilean diplomat and foreign minister.
• Adriana Muñoz (born 1948), Chilean politician.
• Almudena Muñoz (born 1968), Spanish judoka and Olympic champion in 1992.

The surname is linked to Basque muinoa, "hill", and spread south with Reconquista settlers, so Muñoz families are many and separate; heraldic arms belonged to particular lines. For more on the name see our Muñoz coat of arms page, and for research help Muñoz family history and genealogy.