Acosta is a Spanish and Portuguese surname. Originally it was used to refer to a person who lived by the seashore or was from the mountains (encostas). It comes from the Portuguese da Costa, which in Spanish became de Acosta; the exact Spanish counterpart of da Costa is "de la Costa". Notable people with the surname include:Adolovni Acosta (1946–2024), Filipino classical pianist Agustín Acosta (baseball), Cuban baseball player Alberto Acosta, Argentine footballer Alexander Acosta, American attorney and United States Secretary of Labor 2017–2019 Alda Ribiero Acosta (contemporary), American terrorist in Uruguay Allan Acosta, American engineer Ariel Acosta-Rubio, Venezuelan entrepreneur co-founder of Churromania Armando Acosta (contemporary), doom metal drummer, former member of the band Saint Vitus Bertrand Blanchard Acosta (1895–1954), American aviator who flew in the Spanish Civil War Beto Acosta, Uruguayan footballer Carlos Acosta, Cuban ballet dancer Cecilio Acosta (1818–1881), Venezuelan writer Cristóbal Acosta (1515–1580), Portuguese physician and natural historian Ed Acosta, Panamanian Major League Baseball pitcher Eliades Acosta, Cuban politician Iván Acosta, Nicaraguan politician Gael Acosta, Mexican footballer Jim Acosta, CNN senior White House correspondent Joaquín Acosta (1800–1852), Colombian explorer and author Joe Acosta (1950–2020), Puerto Rican salsa piano player José de Acosta (1540–1600), Spanish Jesuit missionary and historian to Latin America José Eusebio Acosta, Venezuelan militar José Julián Acosta (1825–1891), Puerto Rican journalist and abolitionist Josephine Acosta Pasricha (1945–2020), Filipino Indologist and translator Juan F. Acosta (1890–1968), Puerto Rican composer and music teacher Julio Acosta García (1872–1954), President of Costa Rica 1920–1924 Lautaro Acosta, Argentine footballer Leopoldo Acosta, Ecuadorian track and field athlete Luciano Acosta, Argentine footballer Felipe Acosta Carlez (1951-1989), Venezuelan militar Luis Acosta Carlez, Venezuelan militar Mae Acosta, Filipino singer and SexBomb Girls member. Mathieu d'Acosta, translator & explorer, first recorded black person in Canada Manuel Gregorio Acosta (1921–1989), Mexican-American painter Manuel da Costa (1541–1604), Portuguese Jesuit priest, teacher, and missionary Manny Acosta Panamian baseball player Maria Teresa Acosta, Venezuelan actress Marta Acosta, American fiction writer Martha Acosta (contemporary), Peruvian politician and congresswoman Maximo Acosta, Venezuelan baseball player Mercedes de Acosta (1893–1968), Spanish-American poet, playwright, and designer Miguel Acosta, Venezuelan boxer Nelson Acosta (1944–), Uruguayan football player and coach Óscar Acosta (1933–2014), Honduran writer, critic, politician and diplomat Oscar Zeta Acosta (1935–1974), American attorney, author, politician, and activist Pablo Acosta Ortiz, Venezuelan physician Pablo Acosta Villarreal, Mexican drug lord Pedro Acosta, Venezuelan football (soccer) defender Pedro Acosta, Spanish motorcycle racer Persida Acosta, Filipino attorney Raúl Acosta, Colombian road cyclist Rodolfo Acosta (1920–1974), Mexican character actor Santiago Acosta, Argentine flyweight boxer Santos Acosta (1828–1901), President of Colombia 1867–1868 Socorro Acosta (1934–2024), Filipino politician St. Elmo W. Acosta (1900s), American politician from Jacksonville, Florida Teolindo Acosta (1937–2004), Venezuelan professional baseball player Tomás Diez Acosta (1946–2023), Cuban revolutionary, teacher, and author Uriel da Costa (1585–1640), Portuguese philosopher and skeptic