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. Notable people with the surname include:Agustín Acosta, Cuban baseball player Alberto Acosta, Argentine footballer Alberto Martín Acosta Martinez, Uruguayan footballer Rene Alexander Acosta, American attorney and United States Secretary of Labor 2017–2019 Alda Ribiero Acosta (contemporary), American terrorist in Uruguay Allan Acosta, American engineer 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 Carlos Acosta (contemporary), 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 Jim Acosta, CNN senior White House correspondent Joaquín Acosta (1800s), Colombian explorer and author Joe Acosta, Puerto Rican salsa piano player José de Acosta (1540–1600), Spanish Jesuit missionary and historian to Latin America José Julián Acosta (1825–1891), Puerto Rican journalist and abolitionist Josephine Acosta Pasricha (1945–), 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 Manuel Gregorio Acosta (1921–1989), Mexican-American painter Manuel da Costa (1541–1604), Portuguese Jesuit priest, teacher, and missionary Manny Acosta Panamian baseball player Marta Acosta, American fiction writer Martha Acosta (contemporary), Peruvian politician and congresswoman Mercedes de Acosta (1893–1968), Spanish-American poet, playwright, and designer Nelson Acosta (1944–), Uruguayan football player and coach Óscar Acosta (1933–), Honduran writer, critic, politician and diplomat Oscar Zeta Acosta (1935–1974), American attorney, author, politician, and activist Pablo Acosta Villarreal, Mexican drug lord Pedro Acosta, Venezuelan football (soccer) defender 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 St. Elmo W. Acosta (1900s), American politician from Jacksonville, Florida Teolindo Acosta (1937–2004), Venezuelan professional baseball player Tomás Diez Acosta, Cuban revolutionary, teacher, and author Uriel da Costa (1585–1640), Portuguese philosopher and skeptic
