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Origin of the Surname Delahorra
The surname Delahorra presents a geographical distribution that, according to available data, shows a significant presence in the United States, with an incidence of 11%, and a minor presence in Spain, with 1%. This distribution suggests that, although its origin could be in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in Spanish-speaking regions, its expansion in the United States indicates a migratory process that may have begun in Europe and subsequently extended its presence in America. The presence in the United States, in particular, may be related to migratory movements of Spaniards or Latin Americans to that country, or even to the arrival of colonizers and settlers in past times. The lower incidence in Spain does not exclude that the surname has roots in a specific region of Spanish territory, but the dispersion and presence in the United States could indicate that the surname was consolidated in the New World or that it was brought there by migrants at different times. Taken together, the current distribution allows us to infer that Delahorra probably has an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, with a subsequent expansion towards America, in line with the historical migratory patterns of Spaniards to the United States and other Latin American countries.
Etymology and Meaning of Delahorra
From a linguistic analysis, the surname Delahorra seems to be of toponymic origin, composed of the prefix De, which in Spanish indicates origin or belonging, and the root Horra. The structure suggests that it could be translated as “de la horra” or “de la horra”, horra being a term that, in some dialects of Spanish, can refer to a place, a geographical feature, or an element related to land or agriculture. The presence of the prefix De is typical in Spanish toponymic surnames, which indicate origin in a specific place, such as De la Vega or De la Cruz.
As for the root Horra, it could derive from a word of Arabic origin, given that many Spanish words containing Horra or similar have roots in Arabic, especially in regions of the Iberian Peninsula that were under Muslim rule. In Arabic, terms like hurr (حرّ) mean “free” or “freedom,” although there is no exact correspondence. Another hypothesis is that Horra is a derived form of a term related to a place or a geographical feature, such as a toponymic term that refers to an elevated site, a hill or an agricultural area.
The surname Delahorra could be classified as toponymic, since it probably refers to a specific place or geographical feature. The structure of the surname, with the prefix De and the root Horra, is consistent with surnames that indicate origin from a specific place, possibly in some region of the Iberian Peninsula where there was a place called “Horra” or similar.
In terms of literal meaning, Delahorra could be interpreted as “of the horra”, where horra would be a noun that refers to a place, a physical feature or an agricultural element. The classification of the surname, therefore, would be toponymic, with possible influence of Arabic terms or terms of local origin that have been adapted in the formation of the surname.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Delahorra suggests that its most probable origin is in some region of the Iberian Peninsula, where toponymic surnames are common and reflect the territorial and social history of the area. The presence in the United States, with a notable incidence, indicates that the surname may have arrived in America through Spanish or Latin American migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries, in line with the migratory movements that led many Spaniards and Latin Americans to settle in the United States in search of better opportunities.
Historically, the spread of surnames like Delahorra can be linked to colonization and internal colonization in the peninsula, as well as migrations to America during the colonial era and later. The dispersion in the United States may also reflect the diaspora of Hispanic communities that, in search of new opportunities, took with them their surnames and cultural traditions.
The fact that the incidence in the United States is significantly higher than in Spain may be due to the fact that, in some cases, the surnames of originSpanish in America have been maintained and multiplied in specific communities, while in Spain, the lower incidence may indicate that Delahorra was not a very widespread surname in the past, or that its presence is concentrated in particular regions that do not represent a generalized distribution throughout the country.
In summary, the history of Delahorra probably reflects an origin in a locality or region of the Iberian Peninsula, with a subsequent expansion through migrations towards America and, in particular, towards the United States, where its presence has been consolidated in certain population groups. The current geographic dispersion is consistent with historical migratory patterns and with the dynamics of transmission of surnames in diaspora contexts.
Variants of the Surname Delahorra
As for spelling variants, it is possible that there are regional or historical forms of the surname Delahorra. Some variants could include De la Horra, with separation between the components, or simplified forms such as Horra. The presence of spaces or hyphens in toponymic surnames is common in different regions, so variants such as De la Horra or Horra could also be found.
In other languages, especially in Anglo-Saxon contexts, the surname could be adapted as De la Horra or even simplified to Horra. However, there are no widely spread phonetic or orthographic variants recorded in other languages, which reinforces the hypothesis of a mainly Spanish or Iberian origin.
Relationships with similar surnames or surnames with a common root could include other toponymic surnames that contain the root Horra or similar, although there are no clear records of these in onomastic literature. Regional adaptation may also have given rise to different forms in different countries, but in general, Delahorra seems to maintain a relatively stable structure in its original form.
