De la Cámara

The surname de la Cámara, alternately Cámara, is of Galician origin, today part of Spain and Portugal.

Coat of Arms "de la Camara"

Early origins

The name de la Cámara derives from the Medieval Spanish word for chamber, indicating to be part of the king's court. In 1227 King Ferdinand III of Castile ordered by royal edict that the coat of arms of the knights who assisted him battle be displayed in Baeza. Don Gonzalo de la Cámara^[1][2] been one of the knights. In 1393 King Henry III of Castile, confirmed the hereditary nobility and gave Gómez Ruiz, a Gallician knight who was born to a hidalgo family the papers.

Gómez Ruiz de la Cámara was later married to one Queen of Castile Catherine of Lancaster's lady in waiting. The marriage was approved by King Ferdinand III of Castile. Notable descendants include Juan Rodríguez de la Cámara Galician writer and page to King Juan II of Castile.,^[3] considered the last poet of the Galician school and Juan de la Cámara who assisted in the founding of the city Mérida, Yucatán.

Originally members of the hidalgo Spanish and Portuguese nobility. The most direct line of descendants settled in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Spanish conquest of Yucatán during the early 16th century, and they have lived in Mexico for 14 generations with the same last name and they can trace there direct linage back to the High Middle Ages to Gómez Ruiz de la Cámara during the 1200s.

Casa Camara,Mérida Yucatán

Migration

Many members of the family migrated to the Americas to take part in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, some include:

Spanish conquest of Yucatán

• Juan de la Cámara who arrived to New Spain (current day Mexico) in 1539.
• Baltasar de la Cámara who arrived to New Spain in 1565.
• Juana de la Cámara who arrived to New Spain during the 16th century with his three sisters.

Other Spanish colonies

• Diego de la Cámara who arrived to Ecuador in 1584.
• Pedro de la Cámara who arrived to the Philippines in 1594.

Settlers in the United States in the 19th century

• Francisco V Cámara Peresteitto who arrived to New York City in 1822.
• Juan Cámara, who arrived to Puerto Rico in 1860.^[4]
• Manuel Cámara, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1898.

Notable family members

• Gómez Ruiz de la Cámara. Born in the 14th century in Galicia. Given the title "Knight of the King's Chamber" in 1393, where the surname de la Cámara originated.
• Alfonso Ruiz de la Cámara. Spanish nobleman, who was knighted "Caballero de Espuelas Doradas" August 15, 1487 by King Ferdinand II of Aragón, who was King of Sicily from 1468, King of Aragon from 1479 and King of Castile in his right of his wife, Isabella I, from 1475.
• Juan de la Cámara (1525-1602). Spanish Conquistador, born in Alcalá de Henares. Arrived in New Spain's First Viceroy (current day Mexico), from Spain in 1539, and took part in the Conquest of Yucatán in 1541, was one of the founders of Mérida, Yucatán. His descendants have lived in Mexico for more than 14 generations and brought with them their old titles from Europe. Mexican nobility.
• Manuel de la Cámara y Libermoore (May 7, 1835 - ? ). Rear Admiral of the Spanish Navy during the Spanish-American War, born in Málaga, Spain.
• Juan Rodríguez de la Cámara (1390–1450). Galician writer and poet, considered the last poet of the Galician school. Born in Padrón, Galicia (Spain).^[5]
• Isabel Montero de la Cámara Costa Rican diplomat, born in San José, Costa Rica, in 1942
• Nicolás Camára Vales (1875 -1956). Mexican pediatrician and politician born in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.^[6]
• Felix Achille de la Cámara (1897-1945). Writer and artist of Spanish origin, born in Kutná Hora in the Central Bohemian Region of Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic.
• Gómez Fernández de la Cámara He was given by Royal Decree the title of "Secretary and Royal Scribe" and "Royal Notary of the Court" by the King John II of Castile March 9, 1453.
• Gonzalo de la Cámara Was a Spanish knight,his Coat of Arms was displayed in the city of Baeza in 1227,by order from King Ferdinand III of Castile,because hi was with the King in the battle for the city.^[7]
• Juan Francisco de la Cámara y O'Reilly, 6th Count of Buenavista.
• Juan de la Cámara y Goicoechea 7th Count of Buenavista.
• María de las Mercedes de la Cámara y Goicoechea 8th Countess of Buenavista.
• Gonzalo Cámara Zavala (1864 - 1967) Mexican philanthropist, lawyer and writer. Born in Mérida, Yucatán.

List of descendants

Direct line of descent of Gómez Ruiz de la Cámara.^[8]

• Fernando Alonso de la Cámara "El Viejo".
• Pedro de la Cámara "El Tio"
• Alfonzo Ruiz de la Cámara.
• Bernardino de la Cámara.
• Lic. Juan de la Cámara.
• Juan de la Cámara. Baptized in Alcalá de Henares, Spain April 14, 1525.
• Juan Suares de la Cámara y Sandoval. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico May 14, 1565.
• Juan de la Cámara y Aldana. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico March 12, 1598.
• Juan de la Cámara y Osorio. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico June 13, 1650.
• Cristobal de la Cámara y Duarte. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico November 12, 1685.
• Juan de la Cámara y Dominguez. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico December 31, 1711.
• Jose Alcantara de la Cámara y del Castillo. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico October 29, 1744.
• Felipe de la Cámara y Valdés. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico May 5, 1793.
• Camilo de la Cámara y Zavala. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico July 23, 1817.
• Enrique de la Cámara y Zavala. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico November 14, 1860.
• Enrique de la Cámara Peon y Zavala. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico January 8, 1893.
• Enrique de la Cámara Peon y Peon. Baptized in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico November 4, 1921.
• Juan Enrique de la Cámara y Lara. Baptized in Mexico City & Rodrigo de la Cámara y Lara. Baptized in Mexico City June 23, 1962
• Juan Enrique de la Cámara Thomas. Baptized in Mexico City & Fernando Alonso de la Cámara Thomas. Baptized in Mexico City

References

• Archivo General de Indias - Mexico 971-Pag. 316 vat.
• Enrique Cámara Peon |Probanza Genealogica Nobiliaria-Mexico 1985.