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Origin of the Surname Cabra
The surname Cabra has a geographical distribution that, currently, shows a notable concentration in Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Colombia and Spain, with significant incidences in other Latin American countries and in Hispanic communities in the United States. According to available data, Colombia registers the highest incidence with 2,477 cases, followed by Spain with 1,131, and to a lesser extent in the Philippines, United States, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Dominican Republic, India, France, Venezuela, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Mozambique, Israel, Russia, Benin, Poland, Puerto Rico, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Albania, Tunisia, Australia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany and Ireland. This dispersion suggests that the surname has roots that could be linked to the Iberian Peninsula, given its high percentage in Spain and its presence in countries colonized or influenced by Spanish culture.
The notable presence in Colombia, along with its distribution in other Latin American countries, reinforces the hypothesis of a Spanish origin, since the colonization of America by Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries led to the spread of Spanish surnames throughout the region. The presence in the Philippines, a country that was a Spanish colony for more than three centuries, also supports this idea. The dispersion in the United States, although to a lesser extent, can be explained by later migrations and Hispanic communities established in that country.
Etymology and Meaning of Goat
The surname Cabra probably has a toponymic origin, derived from the name of the Spanish town of Cabra, located in the province of Córdoba, in Andalusia. The etymological root of the name of this town is related to the Latin word capra, which means 'goat'. The presence of this root in the surname suggests that, originally, it could have been used to identify people who came from that town or who had some relationship with it.
From a linguistic point of view, the term capra in Latin refers to the goat, an animal that in Mediterranean culture and the Iberian Peninsula had an important role in the economy and in symbology. The transformation of the term in Old Spanish gave rise to the word goat, which maintains its literal meaning. The adoption of the surname Cabra, in its modern form, could be classified as toponymic, given that it refers to a geographical place, although it may also have occupational or descriptive connotations in certain historical contexts.
As for its structure, the surname does not have typical patronymic suffixes such as -ez or -iz, which reinforces its toponymic character. However, in some cases, surnames related to animals or places may have been used as nicknames or distinctive characteristics in rural communities, which later became consolidated as family surnames.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The origin of the surname Cabra, associated with the homonymous town in Córdoba, probably dates back to the Middle Ages, when toponymic surnames began to be consolidated in the Iberian Peninsula. The existence of a place called Cabra in Córdoba, with a history that dates back to Roman and Visigoth times, suggests that the surname may have been formed around that community, identifying its inhabitants or those who came from there.
During the Modern Age, especially after the Reconquest and the consolidation of the Christian kingdoms on the peninsula, the spread of surnames linked to specific localities was common. The expansion of the Cabra surname in Spain may have been favored by internal migratory movements, as well as by the influence of families who carried that name to different regions of the peninsular territory.
The arrival of the surname to America, particularly to Colombia and other Latin American countries, is estimated to have occurred during the colonial period, when the Spanish colonized and established communities in the New World. The significant presence in Colombia, with more than two thousand cases, indicates that the surname may have been established in that region in the 16th or 17th centuries, possibly by families originating from Córdoba or other nearby areas.
The expansion of the surname in other countries, such as the Philippines, Brazil, Italy and Argentina, can be explained by different migratory routes and historical relationships. The presence in the Philippines, for example, is related to Spanish colonization in the Pacific, while in Brazil and other Latin American countries, the diffusion maybe linked to migratory movements after the independence of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies.
In the United States, the presence of the Cabra surname, although smaller in number, can be attributed to recent migrations, especially in Hispanic communities, and to the Latin American diaspora in general. The global dispersion of the surname reflects, in part, the patterns of migration and colonization that have characterized the modern history of the Americas and other regions.
Variants and Related Forms
The surname Cabra, in its original form, may present some spelling variants, especially in historical records or in different countries where the writing and pronunciation may vary. Some possible variants include Cabra (unchanged), as well as forms adapted in other languages or regions, such as Capra in Italian, which also means 'goat' and has similar Latin roots.
In historical contexts, variants such as de Cabra could have been recorded, indicating toponymic origin, or abbreviated forms in ancient documents. Additionally, in regions where the pronunciation differs, it can be found as Kabra or Cabra with different spellings, although the root remains constant.
There are also surnames related to the root capra, such as Capriles or Caprino, which, although they are not direct variants, share the same etymological root and may indicate a relationship in terms of meaning or origin.
In summary, the surname Cabra, with its root in the Latin word for 'goat', is configured as a classic example of a toponymic surname that, over the centuries, expanded from its possible origin in the town of Córdoba to various regions of the world, carrying with it a historical and linguistic legacy that reflects the migrations, colonizations and cultural relations of the Iberian Peninsula with the rest of the world.
