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Introduction:
Introduction:
The surname Mendoza has a strictly linguistic origin in the Basque language, specifically in the dialect spoken in Alava. Etymologically, it comes from the compound word Mendotza: mendi means “mountain” and hotza means ‘cold’, so its literal meaning is “cold mountain”. The ending -a is the definite article in Basque, this completing the meaning of the toponym.
Origin:
Origin:
The surname Mendoza is of Basque origin, specifically from the province of Álava in the Basque Country of northern Spain. It is a habitational name, meaning it originally referred to people from a particular place named Mendoza, which is a village near Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava
Meaning: (Toponymic)
Meaning: (Toponymic)
The name Mendoza is derived from the Basque words mendi (mountain) and (h)otz (cold), with the definite article -a, forming mendi+hotza, which translates literally to "cold mountain" Over time, the Basque form "Mendotza" evolved into the Spanish spelling "Mendoza"
Historical significance:
Historical significance:
The Mendoza family became one of the most prominent noble lineages in medieval and early modern Spain. The family traces its roots back to at least the 11th century, originating from the Lords of Llodio in Álava1345. The first to use the surname was likely Lope Iñiguez, a descendant of Íñigo López, lord of Vizcaya, whose family acquired the estate of Mendoza through marriage and inheritance
Regional and Historical Significance
Regional and Historical Significance
It originated in the town of Mendoza in Alava, Basque Country, Spain. Since the Middle Ages, the Mendoza family spread rapidly throughout Spain and, later, with colonization, the surname spread widely in Latin America and other continents. Currently, Mendoza is a very common surname in countries such as:
Mexico
Colombia
Argentina
Peru
United States of America
Philippines
The Mendoza surname is closely linked to one of the most influential noble houses in the history of Spain: the House of Mendoza. This lineage was a protagonist in Spanish politics, economy and culture from the Middle Ages onwards.
Migration and distribution
Migration and distribution
The Mendoza surname has moved over the centuries through different countries and continents, mainly from its origin in the Basque Country, Spain, to America and other regions of the world. Originally established in the Middle Ages in the Kingdom of Castile, the Mendoza surname expanded with the Spanish colonization to Latin America, where today it is very common in countries such as Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, and also in the United States and the Philippines.
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