The mountainous borders of Spain contains the orgins of the prestigious surname Garza. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the fathers given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mothers given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. Ancient documents such as the libro becerro, compiled in 1352, provide us with excellent material from which to trace the history of a surname. Such records reveal that the Garza surname originated in Galicia, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.
Surnames, like other words in a language, change over time. Some letters become interchangeable as a result of the similar sound, such that in Spanish, Vasco can be spelled Basco. In some cases a surname changes as a result of the way scribes record it. Variations of the Garza surname, Garza, de Garza, de la Garza, Garzo, Garzon, do share the same heritage.
Two of the early cultures which shaped Spain were the Iberian and the Celt. Both groups migrated to Spain before 1000 B.C. Later, Greeks and Carthaginians colonized the coasts, however, they were replaced by the Romans after the Punic Wars. One of the lasting contributions of Roman society was the introduction of Christianity into Spain. In the 4th century Spanish bishops began to play an inportant role in the development of the Church. This tradition continued through people such as St. Isidore of Seville, who participated in the councils which shaped the Church of Spain.
As Rome fell into disarray the Visigoths migrated to Spain, where they came to be rulers of the peninsula. The Visigoths were eventually replaced by Arab rulers after the invasion of Spain in 711. Legend describes the beginning of the Arab invasion as a conflict between Count Julian of Ceuta and King Rodrigo. Julian, enraged at the seduction of his daughter by King Rodrigo, helped the Arabs enter Spain. In the end the Arabs did not stop at over-throwing the King, however, they went on to take over the whole peninsula.
The Christians states which had developed in northern Spain slowly began to take over territories in the south. In the 13th century all that was left of the Muslim empire in Spain was the kingdom of Granada. In 1492 the Christian re-conquest of Spain was completed when the Arabs lost Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The Re-conquest produced legendary figures such as Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, or El Cid. El Cid is known as the greatest warrior of the Re-conquest. Born to a noble family in about 1040, the Cid went on to become the ruler of Valencia. The Garza family was found in Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain with a unique cultural and linguistic heritage. In the Middle Ages Galicia was the focal point of European devotion to St. James (in Spanish "Santiago"), after the relics of the saint were discovered there around the year 830. A shrine was built and the town of Santiago de Compostela grew around it, which by the twelfth century was the most important pilgrimage site in all Europe, attracting pilgrims from as far away as France, Germany and England. Santiago became the patron saint of the Christian Reconquest of Spain from the Muslims, and his name was the rallying cry as the knights and soldiers rushed into battle. In 1139 Galicia was divided into two territories along the Mino River, and the southern half, called Portugal, was granted to Galician nobleman Afonso Henriques, who reigned over the newly independent kingdom as King Afonso I. Galicia maintained its alliance with Castile and Leon, which had united in 1037, and so was to remain within the Castilian sphere of influence while Portugal went it's separate way. During the Middle Ages, a vast amount of poetry was written in Galician, even by poets whose first language was Castilian. The most famous of them was the thirteenth century King of Castile and leon, Alfonso X "The Wise," who compiled a large collection of miracle poems in Galician about the Virgin Mary, the "Cantigas de Santa Maria." During the later Middle Ages, Galicia declined in power as Castile became predominant, but the unique Galician culture and language continue to this day. One of the oldest records of this surname dates from the twelfth century: The name of Arias Garza appears in a document dated 1162. From Galicia the family branched to other regions of the north, including Leon and Castile. As the armies of the Reconquest pushed southwards, families from the north followed and resettled the newly recaptured territories. In this way the family branched to Andalucia and became established in Seville and other centres. Notable bearers of the family name Garza was nineteenth century Uruguayan General Eugenio Garzon.
Columbus discovered America in the same year that the Re-conquest became complete.This discovery gave Spain a new source of wealth. This wealth drew adventurers such as Cortes, Velazquez and Pizarro. Soon colonies sprang up in the New World which drew whole families to the Americas rather than adventurers collecting wealth which was taken back to Spain. Migrants to the New World include Juan de la Garza, who sailed to America in 1514; Juan Garzon sailed to Cuba in 1533; Juan Garzon sailed to Panama in 1535; Alonso Garza sailed to New Spain in 1537; Francisco Garzon sailed to New Spain in 1537; and Juan Garzon sailed to America in 1538.
Surnames, like other words in a language, change over time. Some letters become interchangeable as a result of the similar sound, such that in Spanish, Vasco can be spelled Basco. In some cases a surname changes as a result of the way scribes record it. Variations of the Garza surname, Garza, de Garza, de la Garza, Garzo, Garzon, do share the same heritage.
Two of the early cultures which shaped Spain were the Iberian and the Celt. Both groups migrated to Spain before 1000 B.C. Later, Greeks and Carthaginians colonized the coasts, however, they were replaced by the Romans after the Punic Wars. One of the lasting contributions of Roman society was the introduction of Christianity into Spain. In the 4th century Spanish bishops began to play an inportant role in the development of the Church. This tradition continued through people such as St. Isidore of Seville, who participated in the councils which shaped the Church of Spain.
As Rome fell into disarray the Visigoths migrated to Spain, where they came to be rulers of the peninsula. The Visigoths were eventually replaced by Arab rulers after the invasion of Spain in 711. Legend describes the beginning of the Arab invasion as a conflict between Count Julian of Ceuta and King Rodrigo. Julian, enraged at the seduction of his daughter by King Rodrigo, helped the Arabs enter Spain. In the end the Arabs did not stop at over-throwing the King, however, they went on to take over the whole peninsula.
The Christians states which had developed in northern Spain slowly began to take over territories in the south. In the 13th century all that was left of the Muslim empire in Spain was the kingdom of Granada. In 1492 the Christian re-conquest of Spain was completed when the Arabs lost Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The Re-conquest produced legendary figures such as Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, or El Cid. El Cid is known as the greatest warrior of the Re-conquest. Born to a noble family in about 1040, the Cid went on to become the ruler of Valencia. The Garza family was found in Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain with a unique cultural and linguistic heritage. In the Middle Ages Galicia was the focal point of European devotion to St. James (in Spanish "Santiago"), after the relics of the saint were discovered there around the year 830. A shrine was built and the town of Santiago de Compostela grew around it, which by the twelfth century was the most important pilgrimage site in all Europe, attracting pilgrims from as far away as France, Germany and England. Santiago became the patron saint of the Christian Reconquest of Spain from the Muslims, and his name was the rallying cry as the knights and soldiers rushed into battle. In 1139 Galicia was divided into two territories along the Mino River, and the southern half, called Portugal, was granted to Galician nobleman Afonso Henriques, who reigned over the newly independent kingdom as King Afonso I. Galicia maintained its alliance with Castile and Leon, which had united in 1037, and so was to remain within the Castilian sphere of influence while Portugal went it's separate way. During the Middle Ages, a vast amount of poetry was written in Galician, even by poets whose first language was Castilian. The most famous of them was the thirteenth century King of Castile and leon, Alfonso X "The Wise," who compiled a large collection of miracle poems in Galician about the Virgin Mary, the "Cantigas de Santa Maria." During the later Middle Ages, Galicia declined in power as Castile became predominant, but the unique Galician culture and language continue to this day. One of the oldest records of this surname dates from the twelfth century: The name of Arias Garza appears in a document dated 1162. From Galicia the family branched to other regions of the north, including Leon and Castile. As the armies of the Reconquest pushed southwards, families from the north followed and resettled the newly recaptured territories. In this way the family branched to Andalucia and became established in Seville and other centres. Notable bearers of the family name Garza was nineteenth century Uruguayan General Eugenio Garzon.
Columbus discovered America in the same year that the Re-conquest became complete.This discovery gave Spain a new source of wealth. This wealth drew adventurers such as Cortes, Velazquez and Pizarro. Soon colonies sprang up in the New World which drew whole families to the Americas rather than adventurers collecting wealth which was taken back to Spain. Migrants to the New World include Juan de la Garza, who sailed to America in 1514; Juan Garzon sailed to Cuba in 1533; Juan Garzon sailed to Panama in 1535; Alonso Garza sailed to New Spain in 1537; Francisco Garzon sailed to New Spain in 1537; and Juan Garzon sailed to America in 1538.
