|
Home: Surnames:
Garza Family Genealogy Forum
  
I was sent info that the Garza family is not of Jewish origin.This is a note from Juan Moran: 1.) There were about 100 persons (not families) that came with Luis de Carvajal to the Monterrey area in 1580. Among those 100 persons, 67 persons have been identified as being of Jewish origin. Those families that came with Carvajal moved to the Mexico City area after Carvajal was taken by the Inquisition. The Monterrey area was unpopulated for 10 years before it was repopulated again and officially founded by Diego de Montemayor. The founding families of Monterrey and their geneology has been well detailed in a book titled "Nuevo Leon, Apuntes Historicos" (1938) by Dr. Santiago Roel and also by another historian, Mariano Sobremonte, who wrote a biography about the founder Diego de Montemayor. Not one of those persons has the last name Garza. Not one person with the last name Garza from the Nuevo Leon area was tried or even suspect by the Inquisition. This you can check by reading the book by Eugenio del Hoyo "Historia del Reyno de Nuevo Leon" (1972) and in the various books about Inquisition in Mexico (Medina, Liebman, Toro, among various authors). 2.) The origin and geneology of the Garza name in Monterrey has been extensively studied by Dr. Tomas Medirichaga a history profesor at the University of Nuevo Leon. He published the book "El Origen del Apellidos Garza y Trevino en Nuevo Leon" in 1982. The Garza name is a Catholic/Christian name from Spain. 3.) The wealthy Garza family of Monterrey is not Jewish, nor is it of Crypto Jewish origin either. Their geneology is very well documented in the "Diccionario Biografico de Nuevo Leon" by Israel Cavazos. The latest edition of this biographical dictionary is 1997.
There is a serious error at the URL you mention. It is hard to correct when it is not known who wrote it and/or whom to contact to post correct information. 4.) There were several Alonso de Leon. The first and best known Alonso de Leon was a cattleman, soldier/miltitary and he was a very devout catholic and a historian. He had very close connections with the Inquisitors and he dedicated his history book to the Inquisitor of Mexico City (Juan De Manosca). He died of a natural death at about age 52. His life and death was docuemented by a contemporary of his, Juan Bautista Chapa. Of the various historical works I know, none even makes a mention of relatives of his much less tried by the Inquisition. Alonso de Leon wrote a book titled "Historia de Nuevo Leon". There is ample document/archival information about his life and family in the Archives of Monterrey and there are several studies about him. Also this Alonso de Leon lived and used as his center of activities in Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon.
5.) Don Israel Cavazos Garza is not Jewish nor is he of Crypto Jewish origin. He has not written anything on Jewish related topics. He is not an expert on Sepharadim either. He himself will tell you that. He is a very distinguished and productive scholar who has written extensively on Nuevo Leon's history. His books are available at many University libraries. He does interact well with the Jewish community of Monterrey (such as giving lecture at the synagogue there). The present Jewish community in Monterrey is very recent, since the 1930s. Before that there was no organized Jewish life in Monterrey.
Hope this clarifies some of your questions. Juan Moran
  
|