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There is good evidence to state that the origins of the name are Castillian/Spanish possibly originating round town of Castrojurez. There was a person in the late 900's who was described as being the head of the de Castro's in charge of this town then.
There are two different major branches one Jewish and the other Catholic in origin. It is not known if they both had the same roots.
Certainly during the early re-conquests of Spain by the time Castile was being re-settled the two most powerful families in the region were described as the de Castro's and Lara families.
The de Castro's were certainly still a force to be reconed with when Inez de Castro became the mistress of the Crown Prince of Portugal as after her murder the clan mobilised and when to war in the region.
It is probable due to marriage and land conquest the family moved into Portugal as that Kingdom was being established.
With the eviction of the Jewish population from Spain a number, some say 600, of powerful families were given special privilage when they settled in Portugal and it is most probable that these included the Jewish lines of the de Castro and Lara families. From both Spain and Portugal both christian and Jewish branches spread round the world. The catholic families obviously to the new world and other regions annexed by the colonial powers. The Jewish families due to expulsion whent to Constantonople and also to the Low Countries including France and Holland. There are well documented de Castro jewish families right through early European countries. One branch moved to England in the late 1600's or early 1700's and my branch of this family came to New Zealand as very christian Englishmen in 1850.
If you read very early Spanish history and the early times of the re-conquest of what became Castile you will pick up many references to early de Castro families.
In simple terms the name is supposed to mean "Of the Castle" A Castro is also used to describe very early Celtic round forts on hill tops of very early origin in Northern Spain.
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