Origin of the surname Espinoza

This ancient surname is recorded in some forty spelling forms. These range from Epine, Lepine, Delepine, (French) to Espinas and Espinoza (Spanish) and Spinelli (Italian). The surname is usually recorded in most dictionaries of surnames as being of early French origins, but is not so. It is more correctly Roman (Latin), and derives its origin from the pre Christian word 'spina', a description for a person who lived either by a prominent thorn bush, or more probably a defensive area protected by thorn bushes, or on the ridge or spine of a hill.

As a late medieval surname, it was also applied as a nickname to a "difficult" person, one of "prickly" character! It has also been suggested that in some cases the surname was originally a nickname for "a spy". If this is so, the derivation would have been from the French word "espionier", but this is not proven. Early examples of the surname recording include Claude Espinoy, in Paris, in 1638, Michelle Lespine, who married Pierre Fiquet at Rumigny, Ardenne, in 1632; and Jean Epinet, of Bard, Loire, in 1689. Further recordings are those of Maria de Espinoza at San Miguel Arcangel, Mexico on February 5th 1696 and Rueda Espinosa at San Juan Bautistia, Coyoacan, Mexico, on August 20th 1775. The coat of arms has the blazon of a silver field, charged with a red fesse, and overall a black lion rampant. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Louis Delespine, which was dated August 1st 1545, at the Church of St. Florentine, at Amboise, France, during the reign of King Francis 1 of France, and of the House of Valois, 1515 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Espinoza. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname espinoza is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of espinoza.

The surname Espinoza around the world

The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname espinoza provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Espinoza

For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname espinoza, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of espinoza developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname espinoza.

We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about espinoza and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Espinoza

Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname espinoza were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname espinoza, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.

The surname Espinoza and its bibliographic sources

The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of espinoza are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of espinoza.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of espinoza, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Espinoza