Saenz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saenz coat of arms
Saenz coat of arms

Saenz (pronounced sigh-nz) is a Spanish surname originating in The Kingdom of Spain in the Castile region, now known as La Rioja, [1] derived from its unknown original Semetic surname.

Contents

[edit] History

Derived from an unknown original Semetic surname, "Saenz" (sigh-nz) meaning, "Saint", is a modification of Santo which is a modification of the Italian form of the Late Latin name Sanctus which was derived from the word Sanctius meaning, "He who walks with God; he who is a good Christian; saintly; holy". Spelling variations of this family name include: Saens, Sans, Sanx, Sanz, Sanchez, Sainz, Saiz, Saez, and many more. [2]

Originating from the Castilla La Vieja (now Rioja) region in The Kingdom of Spain created by Semitic families who immigrated into the region via the Way of St. James due to religious conflicts in their native lands using this name as a way of assimilating into their new country of settlement.

Integrating with Spain's native people, the name became common in this territory. These families, and those like them, were known as Conversos or Sephardi. Later in 1478, due to the Alhambra Decree, many Saenz family members that retained forms of Judaism faiths were forced to migrate to new lands.

Several Spanish Jews living in Spain, so-called Conversos, changed their faith to Catholicism to avoid being killed by Catholics for having their original faith be Judaism. These Jews were forced to adopt Spanish names to live in Spain after conversion, using Spanish names to "prove" to authorities that their conversion was "true". (see Religious conversion)

This was common place in dark-age times, both in Spain and Portugal, where Jews adopted tree names in Portuguese, like "Oliveira" ( olive tree ), "Pereira" ( pear tree ), "Salgueiro" ( willow tree), "Figueira" ( fig tree ), etc. In Portugal, these Jews were called "Cristãos-Novos" ( new Christians ).

The Saenz coat of arms denotes a tree in line with this Jewish aspect, as well as two similar fruits on either side of the tree and opposing lions on the latter half of the shield, depicting a duality involved in the root of the name.

One of the earliest known "Saenz" is believed to be Fortun Saenz de Vera, a Basque [3] crusader who, acting on behalf of King James I of Aragon (1208 - 1276), was present on their campaigns of "Reconquista", fighting at Valencia, Balearic Islands, Murcia, etc. [4]

During the Spanish conquest of Mexico several Saenz members migrated over to New Spain, which later became Mexico and the United States of America. This was genetically proven when Bennett Greenspan, the President of Family Tree DNA Inc., had this to say regarding a DNA research project on Mexican families:

“ One item for you to be aware of... If you are testing male members of the founding families of Mexico, especially the founding families of Northern Mexico, you will probably see a strong percent of Semitic DNA evidence from Crypto Jews who were among the Spanish conquerors of Mexico from the 1500s. We have clearly seen these foot steps in the testing we have done to date. [5] ”

Not all Saenz families, however, are from Jewish origin, being a genealogical research or a DNA test good tools to be sure. This happens because, being a widespread family name in Spain, not all Saenz families are related to each other today.

Today a large number of Saenz families still reside in Spain, France and throughout Europe. The largest population of Saenz's in the world currently reside in Basque Country[citation needed] (an autonomous community), an administrative division of Spain. In North America many reside in the northern part of Mexico (central to Nuevo León [6]) while American Saenz families take greatest percentage in the state of Texas. [7] This is most probably because much of the state was once part of New Spain/Mexico. In fact, in the state of Texas a Saenz family gained prominence for ranching and the town sites of Roma-Los Saenz, La Gloria, and Santa Elena were established.

The Americas and Europe are where the majority Saenz families exist today.

[edit] Saenz of note

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Hispanic Online.com -Research & Resources
  2. ^ saenz Coat of Arms, Family Crest
  3. ^ Corpus Christi Online - / La Historia de su Apellido
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ The Genealogy of Mexico
  6. ^ Surnames
  7. ^ Saenz Family History Facts 1920

Aarón Sáenz Garza, politician Amanda Saenz, singer Angel Sáenz-Badillos, professor of Hebrew Language and Literature Antonio Fernandez Saenz, lawyer and human rights defender Calvin Andrew Sáenz, Graphic Artist and NHL prospect Camille Saint-Saëns, French composer and performer Dan Saenz, American record producer Ernest M. Saenz, Interdisciplinary Artist, Actor, Musician, Writer and Director. Fortun Saenz de Vera, Spanish crusader Jaime Saenz, poet Jaime Marichalar y Saenz de Tejada, Spanish Royal Joaquin Saenz Arriaga, religious leader Joseph Saenz de Aguirre, religious leader Josephine Alicia Saenz,First wife of actor John Wayne Don Daniel Saenz Garza, Spanish Texas nobleman, rancher, heir to La Sal de Colorada Spanish Land Grant. Luis Sáenz Peña, politician Manuela Sáenz, civil leader Mario Saenz, musian and painter Marta Saenz, victim of the SS Morro Castle disaster Mike Saenz, comic book artist and game developer Olmedo Sáenz, baseball player Ralph Saenz, musician Raul Alfonso Saenz Meraz Mexico based businessman Roque Sáenz Peña, politician Saenz, music artist Saenz v. Roe, United States Supreme Court case Mando Saenz indie, folk, rock musician/songwriter Breana monigue saenz martinez, a famous poet

[edit] External links