Peña (surname)

de la Peña
Family name
The coat of arms is composed of three towered walls and three stars
Meaning	"Cliff, Crag, Rock"
Region of origin	Castile

Peña or de la Peña is a Spanish habitation surname. The origin of the surname can be traced directly to the Middle Ages. The earliest public record of the surname dates to the XIII century in the Valley de Mena (Burgos) in the Kingdom of Castile. The Peñas lived, originally, near a cliff or rocky land. Records indicate that the name derives from the Spanish word peña meaning "rock," "crag" or "cliff."^[1]

The bearers of this surname proved their noble descent in the Order of Saint James of the Sword in 1626, 1629, 1651 and 1657; in the Order of Calatrava, in 1657, 1687, 1688, 1700 and 1785; in the Order of Alcántara in 1644 and 1693 and in the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III, in 1790 and 1838; and many times in the Royal Audiencia and Chancillería of Valladolid; in the Royal Audience of Oviedo, in 1788 and 1795; and in the Royal Company of Midshipmen in 1767.

Contents 1 Notable Peñas 2 Holders of Spanish titles of nobility in the XXI century 3 Other 4 Further reading 5 References 6 External links

Notable Peñas

• Luis Sáenz Peña (1822-1907), President of Argentina (1892-1895)
• Manuel de la Peña y Peña (1789-1850), interim president of Mexico from September to November 1847 and president from January 1848 to June 1848
• José de la Peña y Aguayo (1801-1853), Spanish abogado, Member of Parliament and Lord Chancellor.
• Manuel la Peña (1808-1811), or Lapeña, was a Spanish military officer who served during the Peninsular War
• Pedro Pablo Peña Cañete (1864-1943), President of Paraguay (1912)
• Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, Marquess de Bradomin, (1866–1936), Spanish dramatist, novelist and member of the Spanish Generation of 98
• Roque Sáenz Peña (1851 - 1914), President of Argentina (1910-1914)

Holders of Spanish titles of nobility in the XXI century

People with surname de la Peña or Peña holding a title of nobility in Spain at present include:

• Don Ramiro Pérez-Maura y de la Peña, Grandee of Spain, Duke de Maura and Count de Mortera (Granted in 1930 and 1876 respectively)
• Don Antonio González de Aguilar y de la Peña, Marquess de Arenal (Granted in 1847)
• Don Magín Peña y Lorca, Marquess de Ogijares (Granted in 1889)
• Doña Marina Peña y Paradela, Countess de Gaviria (Granted in 1837)
• Doña Helena de la Peña y Robles, Countess de Xauen (Granted in 1929)
• Doña Matilde Francisca Barriouevo y Peña, Vincountess de Barrionuevo (Granted in 1891)

Other

• Adarand Constructors v. Peña - United States Supreme Court case

Further reading

• Elenco de grandezas y títulos nobiliarios españoles 2006 Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas y López/Hidalguía
• Blasonario de la consanguinidad ibérica 1980

References

External links

• http://www.4crests. com/pena-family-crest-coat-arms.html
• Origins and history of the Spanish coat of arms (in Spanish)

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