Muñoz Genealogy in Perú

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Brief Muñoz History

Muñoz and its roots in the American Continent

The surname Muñoz (also spelled Muños) is among the most widespread in the Spanish world. Although its origins are disputed, the most likely explanation is that the name came from Scotland or some royal Gothic line. There are a hefty 334 entries for people named Muñoz on passenger logs of travelers to the New World between 1509 and 1577. The name was thus firmly established from the beginning of the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas, although in some areas it underwent modifications.

During the 1600's several Muñoz families are documented in Venezuela, Chile, and Peru. In the following century, the name began to appear in church and court records in Cuba and Mexico also.

Surprisingly, the surname was not often found in the United States before 1900. There was only one person named Muñoz in all of New Mexico according to early colonial censuses. By 1860, there were just ten. A sprinkling of others was noted in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Louisiana. The largest concentration was located in Texas, where 16 lived as early as 1850.
Source: Instituto Genealógico e Histórico Latinoamericano.

Muñoz in Peru

Alonso Muñoz was the first Spanish male with the Muñoz surname to arrive in Perú. According to El Catalogo de Pasajeros a Indias VOL I 1509-1534, Alonso Muñoz arrived in Perú on April 15, 1534.  Alonso Muñoz was the son of Sancho Muñoz and Mencía Díez, natural of Fuentes de Béjar, Province of Salamanca, Castilla y Leon-Spain.  It’s unknown where he settled in Perú.

Notable Muñoz’s in the 1511-1530’s

  • Gonzalo Muñoz, first Muñoz in America, Puerto Rico. March 1, 1511 see Archivo General de Indias; http://pares.mcu.es/       
  •  Cristobal  Muñoz, mentions the name of “Perú” in 1527 for the first time in “el proceso” of Pedro Arias [Pedrarias] Davila, ruler of Panama. Cristobal Muñoz was a manuscript writer for the Spanish crown. See Narrative and Critical History of America By Justin Winsor.
  •       Inés Muñoz, CIRCA 1532 She becomes one of the first inhabitants of Lima, married Francisco Pizarro’s half brother Francisco Martin de Alcantara. After Alcantara’s death, defending the Marquis of Xauxa, she marries Antonio de Ribera. She’s also credited as the first to cultivate wheat in Perú. See El Diario de Inés Muñoz by Jaime Ariensen Cespedes.
  • Gaspar Muñoz, Hernando Pizarro’s Ship Captain. Perú July 11, 1534. 
  • Pedro Muñoz Parrales, arrives in Peru between 1580-1582. A clergyman, natural of Aracena, Andalucia, Spain died in Trujillo-Perú. He is the earliest Muñoz that lived in Trujillo-Peru. My grandfather, Segundo Muñoz Corcuera is from Trujillo-Peru.  The first Corcueras to arrive in Peru are Pedro Hurtado De Corcuera y Mendoza and  Francisco Ruiz de Corcuera in 1628.

Muñoz Coat of Arms

Surnames under the same soundex code M520

Manos 

Menucci 

Muñoz

Munz

Moniuszko

Muñiz

Munyo

Nuñez

What does Muñoz mean?

There are different theories. One of them argues that is a toponymic name. In other words the surname comes from a particular place, especifically from Northern Spain. Going along with this theory it is also said that the surname is patronymical in origin, meaning; son of Muno (hill), or son of Nuño (ninth). see Halbert's Family heritage. Also see; about.com

Another theory indicates that the surmname has Roman origins (son of Munyo, a Roman proconsul). Just to confuse things a bit more http://www.sephardim.com/ lists  Muñoz, Munios, and Munyon as a sephardic Jewish names.   

Conclusion: The surname Muñoz comes from Roman Sephardic Jews that lived in the mountaneous regions in Northern Spain?

This webpage was created in August 1997.

 

 

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