The Spanish verb 'apellidar' (meaning 'to call' or 'to name') comes from the Latin word 'appellitare', which meant 'to call frequently'. 'Appellitare' itself was derived from the Latin verb 'appellare', meaning 'to call' or 'proclaim'. This shows how the basic concept of calling or naming has been preserved from Latin to modern Spanish, with the word undergoing phonetic changes typical of Spanish evolution from Latin roots.

A common related Spanish word is 'apellido' (surname, family name), which is a noun derived from the same root. This connection makes intuitive sense since a surname is essentially what a family is 'called' or known by. Another related word is 'apelación' (appeal), which preserves the idea of 'calling upon' someone or something, in this case calling upon a higher authority in legal matters.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'appeal' and 'appellate' (as in appellate court), which come from the same Latin root 'appellare'. Just as 'appeal' in English carries the sense of calling upon someone for help or judgment, the Spanish 'apellidar' preserved the basic concept of calling or naming. The English word 'appellation' (a name or title) is another cognate that shares this etymological connection.