Wednesday, January 27, 1993 * EXCELSIOR * Volviendo a Nuestras Raices
heraldic A
CONOZCA EL ORIGEN DEL APELLIDO
CASTRO
One of the most ancient and illustrious of all Spanish surnames, Castro is derived from the Latin "castrum" meaning one who lived at, or near, the castle or fortress. Castro can be traced back to the 11th century, one of five Castilian lines of early kings. During the Middle Ages Castros held eminent royal positions.
Castro is the 33rd most popular surname among modem Hispanic families. The first record of Castros in the New World are two brothers, Baltasar and Melchor de Castro who entered Santo Domingo in 1511. Male relatives many times served together in the colonizations of the Americas. The practice of the eldest son receiving the family estate left younger kinsmen with a natural desire to seek their own property through service to the King, or by other means.
Documents reveal early Spanish trans- Atlantic merchandizing. A letter, dated 1520 from Hemando de Castro in Cuba discusses difficulty with business opportunities in Mexico City. The letter destined for his partner in Sevilla, Spain touches on other problems too, including the shipwreck death of the shipwreck death of a nephew bringing merchandize. Martin Castro, escribano, held a most important position of notary in Mexico City between 1536 and 1538. He himself is also seen receiving urban property in Mexico City in 1530's. These urban properties were distributed for business purposes, as well as for city dwellings.
Early settlements outside of Mexico City identifies a Juan de Castro, Portugese among the fundadores of Guadalajara, mid 1530. Another Portugese, Miguel de Castro assisted in establishing San Martin in 1556. A Gonzalo Femandez de Castro is shown with contracts or sales in mining interests and ranching in 1628 in the Cerralvo area and among the men who settled the town in 1635. By the mid 1600's migration north identified 9 Castro men in Nuevo Espana.
Migration north and west continued, revealing the common practice of extended families traveling together, intermarrying and conducting business with one another. Very few Castros settled in New Mexico and Colorado, virtually none migrated east to Louisiana and Florida. However, many Castros settled in Arizona, and Castro is one of the most numerous of all colonial families in California. The majority of the different branches in California trace their origins to Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico.
JOAQUIN ISIDRO CASTRO bom in 1732 is among the earliest of Castros to enter California in 1775-76 from the state of Sinaloa. Joaquin was one of the 40 'soldados de cuera, who accompanied the 240 colonists on the Anza Expedition. The title of 'soldados de cuera came from their armor of seven layers of cowhide. Joaquin took his wife Maria Marguerita Matina Botiller and their eight children, not to explore, but to establish a home.
22