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Origin of the Surname Peregrín
The surname Peregrín has a geographical distribution that currently shows a significant presence in Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Spain and Latin America, as well as in the United States and some European nations. The highest incidence is recorded in the Philippines, with 1,493 cases, followed by Spain with 527, and to a lesser extent in the United States, Argentina, and other countries. This dispersion suggests that the origin of the surname could be linked to the Iberian Peninsula, given that its presence in Latin American countries and in the Philippines, former Spanish colonial territories, reinforces this hypothesis. The notable incidence in the Philippines, in particular, may indicate that the surname arrived in these lands during the time of Spanish colonization, which began in the 16th century. The current distribution, with a concentration in Spanish-speaking countries and the Philippines, allows us to infer that the surname Peregrín probably has an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain, and that its expansion was favored by the migratory and colonial processes of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Etymology and Meaning of Peregrín
The surname Peregrín has a clear root in the Latin vocabulary and in the Romance languages derived from it. The most likely form of its origin is the Latin term peregrinus, which means “foreigner”, “stranger” or “pilgrim”. This term, in turn, comes from the Latin roots per- (“through”) and gradi (“walk”), which together denote the idea of “walking through” or “traveler.” The phonetic and morphological evolution in the Romance languages gave rise to different forms, among them the surname Peregrín, which in Spanish preserves the original root, with a phonetic adaptation that includes the ending -ín, a diminutive or patronymic suffix in some cases, which can indicate “little pilgrim” or “son of the pilgrim.”
From a semantic point of view, the surname could have originally been a nickname or a descriptor for people who went on pilgrimages or who had some relationship with the concept of sacred travel or journey. The presence of the suffix -ín, frequent in Spanish surnames, suggests that the surname may have been formed in the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages, in a context where pilgrims were relevant figures, especially in relation to the Route of Santiago or pilgrimages to holy places.
As for its classification, Peregrín can be considered a descriptive surname, given that it refers to a characteristic or activity linked to pilgrimage. However, it could also have a toponymic character if at some point it was associated with places related to pilgrims or pilgrimage routes. The structure of the surname, with its root in the Latin term and its diminutive suffix, reinforces the hypothesis of an origin in the Spanish language or in one of the peninsular Romance languages.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Peregrín allows us to assume that its most probable origin is in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain. The presence in countries such as Argentina, Mexico, and others in Latin America, as well as in the Philippines, indicates that the surname expanded through the colonial and migratory processes that took place from the 16th century onwards. The Spanish colonization in America and Asia brought with it numerous surnames of Iberian origin, among them those related to religious, religious or travel activities, as in the case of Peregrín.
During the Middle Ages, the figure of the pilgrim acquired great relevance in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in relation to the Santiago de Compostela Route, one of the most important pilgrimage routes in the Christian world. It is possible that in this context, some individuals or families adopted or received the surname Peregrín, in reference to their participation in these routes or their character as pilgrims. The spread of the surname in the peninsula would have been consolidated in subsequent centuries, in a process that was also marked by colonial expansion towards America and other regions.
The fact that the incidence in the Philippines is the highest in the current distribution can be explained by the presence of Spanish settlers in the archipelago, who brought their surnames and traditions with them. The persistence of the surname in these regions reinforces the hypothesis of an origin in the peninsula, which was subsequently dispersed throughout the colonial territories. Internal migration in Spain, as well asInternational migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries also contributed to the dispersion of the surname, which today is found in various parts of the world.
In summary, the history of the Peregrín surname appears to be closely linked to the culture of pilgrimage in the Iberian Peninsula, and its global expansion can be attributed to the colonial and migratory movements of the 16th centuries onwards. The presence in Latin American countries, in the United States and in the Philippines reflects the main vectors of diffusion of this surname, which probably began as a descriptor of individuals related to religious pilgrimages or with characteristics associated with travelers.
Variants and Related Forms of the Surname Peregrín
In the analysis of the variants of the surname Peregrín, it can be seen that, due to its origin in a Latin root, there are various forms in different regions and languages. A common variant in Spanish is Peregrino, which in some cases may have given rise to patronymic forms or derived surnames. The form Peregrín itself can present spelling variants, such as Peregrin, without accent, in regions where accentuation is not strictly marked in writing.
In other languages, the surname can take similar forms: in Italian, for example, it could be found as Pellegrino, which also derives from the same Latin term and means "pilgrim." In French, the form would be Pèlerin, and in English, it could be translated as Pilgrim. These variants reflect the common root and phonetic adaptation in different Romance and Germanic languages.
In addition, in some cases, the surname may be related to other surnames that contain the root Peregrin- or Pellegrino, and that in certain historical or family contexts, could be considered variants or surnames with a common root. Phonetic and orthographic adaptation in different countries has also given rise to regional forms, which reflect the linguistic and cultural particularities of each area.
