Re: ornelas - some notes about this surname
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In reply to:
Re: ornelas - some notes about this surname
2/03/01
More notes about this surname
Coat of arms: There are several coats of arms assigned a families with this surname. This ( See: http//:www.lusaweb.com/genresources/madeira/madno.cfm )is from the 16th CENTURY. It is inOrnelas Vasconcelos’s Palace, Funchal.
The background is blue, the lane is red, with tree golden “ fleurs-de–lis”; two silver mermaids with hers golden mirrors
There are a older one, maybe from the 14th century: background red with three golden “fleurs-de-lis”.
Afonso Dornelas wrote that the three fleurs-de-lis was taken from the french shield of arms. Ramiro III’sgrandson married with a french princess: Alembert. Also the first king of Portugal´family, was french ( Afonso I was son of Henry of Burgundy). This explain the three fleurs-de-lis.
The mermaids have a interesting story. Álvaro Dornelaswas among the firstportuguese explorers of theNorth African coast. In Canary Islands, the portuguese captured slaves. (Alvaro de Ornelas was, also, among the firsts european trade slavers). In Canary islands Alvaro de Ornelas captured alive two seal monk (Monachus monachus, Herman, 1777) and took them to the kingdom. This gift amused the king. Since them these seals have been represented on the coat of arms by two mermaids.
Seal Monk: In Odissey Homero wrote a scene wherein the hero has to be bound to the ship mast for notto be delighted by the mermaids chant.These mermaidswas seal monk.
This species inhabited mediterraneanwaters, and the African coast, including Canary and Madeira. For centuries they have been death with sticks. At the beginning for extract oil and animal fat. Afterwards they have been death by fishermens. Theyaccuse themto eat whole fish.
In oursdays they are among animal species more threaten in the world. There are circa 300 seals Monk worldwide. In Madeira there is a natural reserve with circa 20 seal monks. This specie is like the Caribbean seal, already extinct; and Hawai Seal, also in risk of extinction.
Guanches: The Guanches was the people that inhabited the Canary Islands before the arrival of the Europeans.
They had come by boat stretching from the north of África (+-4.000BC). When the Europeans arrived (1350AC)They already lost the knowledge in boat building. Must be a story like the inhabitants of easter island. In 16th Century they were already extinguished. They were captured for slaves. They fighted against European occupation, but not survived.
Toponímicos:It happens when a person took for surname the nameof the lands where the family live.
Petronímicos: Until the 15th CENTURY was custom to use “petronímicos”. Two examples:
... ->surname of the father: Henriques-> First name of the son: Henrique->....
....->surname of the father: Rodrigues-> First name of the son: Rodrigo->...
Civilian and Military organization: The nobles collect the taxes for Kingdom treasure. Did not existed national army. When the king declare war,was the nobles that take their armies. They were constituted by farmers and peasants. The king have interest in make censuses: Who are they ?; where are their lands?; How many mens have in their armies?. And so appear the “Inquirições” and “ Confirmações” for preventing from the nobles to use of “petronímicos”. The nobles pass to use the name of the land that they were owners. So apears the first Dornelas: The owner of the lands of Dornelas parish.
Regards