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Origin of the Surname Pérez-Díaz
The compound surname Pérez-Díaz has a geographical distribution that, for the most part, is concentrated in Spanish-speaking countries, with a significant presence in the United States and a lower incidence in Europe and Latin America. The highest incidence in the United States, with 45% of the total, suggests that an important part of the bearers of the surname could have arrived in that country through migratory processes, mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries, linked to the Latin American and Spanish diaspora. The presence in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Puerto Rico, and others, although smaller, also indicates an expansion that could be related to European and Latin American migratory movements.
The concentration in the United States, together with the presence in Latin American countries such as Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Argentina, suggests that the origin of the surname is probably Spanish, given that its structure and distribution coincide with patterns of colonization and migration from the Iberian Peninsula to America. The presence in Europe, although smaller, reinforces this hypothesis, since it may also reflect internal migrations or historical connections with the Iberian Peninsula.
In general terms, the current distribution of the Pérez-Díaz surname suggests that its most likely origin is in Spain, specifically in regions where patronymic and toponymic surnames are common. The double component of the surname, with a patronymic (Pérez) and a toponymic or descriptive (Díaz), is characteristic of the Spanish onomastic tradition, which combines family and geographical elements in compound surnames.
Etymology and Meaning of Pérez-Díaz
The surname Pérez-Díaz is composed of two elements that, together, reflect the patronymic and, possibly, toponymic tradition of Spanish surnames. The first part, "Pérez", is a patronymic surname that derives from the proper name "Pedro", with the suffix "-ez", which in the Spanish language indicates "son of". Therefore, "Perez" literally means "son of Peter." This type of patronymic formation is very common in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Middle Ages, and was consolidated as a family pattern that was transmitted from generation to generation.
The second element, "Díaz", is also a patronymic surname, derived from the name "Diego", with the suffix "-z" or "-ez" in some variants, which also means "son of Diego". However, in the context of compound surnames, "Díaz" can have a toponymic or descriptive character, depending on the region and family tradition. In some cases, "Díaz" could be related to a place or a geographical feature, although in most cases in Spanish onomastics, it is also a patronymic.
Therefore, the surname "Pérez-Díaz" could be interpreted as "son of Pedro and Diego", or as a union of two patronymic lineages, which at some point were consolidated into a specific family or lineage. The composite structure indicates that it is probably a surname of nobility or of families that sought to distinguish themselves by combining patronymic surnames, a practice that became more frequent in the Modern Age.
From a linguistic point of view, both components come from Vulgar Latin, in which "Petrus" (Pedro) and "Didacus" (Diego) gave rise to proper names, which later gave rise to patronymic suffixes in the Spanish language. The presence of these suffixes in surnames reflects the influence of Germanic and Roman tradition in the formation of Spanish onomastics.
As for the classification of the surname, "Pérez-Díaz" would be considered a patronymic compound surname, with possible toponymic or descriptive origin in some of its variants. The structure reflects a family tradition that combines elements of paternal lineages and, potentially, of places or physical or social characteristics associated with the family in its origins.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The origin of the surname Pérez-Díaz, in line with the etymology analyzed, probably dates back to the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in regions where the patronymic tradition was predominant, such as Castilla, León or Aragón. The formation of compound surnames with patronymic and toponymic elements was a common practice in these areas, especially among the noble classes and families with certain social influence.
During the Middle Ages, the consolidation of surnames such as Pérez and Díaz served to distinguish families in recordscivil, ecclesiastical and notarial. The union of these two patronymics into a single composite surname could have occurred by marriage, adoption or recognition of lineages, and was subsequently transmitted to subsequent generations.
The expansion of the surname towards America can be related to the processes of Spanish colonization in the 16th century and later. The presence in Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, reflects the migration of Spanish families to these lands, taking with them their surnames and onomastic traditions. The incidence in the United States, which reaches 45%, is probably due to more recent migrations, in the 19th and 20th centuries, motivated by economic, political or social reasons, in a context of the Latin American and Spanish diaspora.
In Europe, the presence in countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, although smaller, may be related to internal migratory movements or to the influence of Spanish families who settled in these countries. The geographical dispersion of the surname may also reflect the social and economic mobility of the bearer families, who sought new opportunities in different regions.
The current distribution pattern, with a high incidence in the United States and presence in Latin America and Europe, suggests that the Pérez-Díaz surname has an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain, and that its expansion was favored by the colonial and migratory processes that characterized the modern history of these territories.
In summary, the surname reflects a family tradition that probably dates back to the Middle Ages on the peninsula, with an expansion that accelerated in subsequent centuries due to colonization and international migrations. The structure of the surname, combining two patronymics, indicates a lineage that may have had some social relevance or nobility in its origin, although this would require more specific genealogical research to confirm.
Variants and Related Forms
The surname Pérez-Díaz, due to its compound structure, can present various spelling variants and regional adaptations. In the history of Spanish onomastics, it is common to find variants in the writing of patronymics, especially in times when spelling standardization was not strict. Some possible variants include "Perez Diaz", "Pérez Diaz", or even shortened forms in old documents.
In other languages and regions, the surname can be adapted phonetically or in writing. For example, in Anglo-Saxon countries, it is possible to find forms like "Perez-Diaz" without an accent, or simply "Perez Diaz". In regions where the pronunciation differs, there could also be different phonetic forms, although the etymological root remains intact.
In addition, there are related surnames that share a root or structure, such as "Pérez", "Díaz", "Paredes-Díaz", "Paredes Pérez", among others, which reflect the same patronymic and toponymic tradition. The presence of these related surnames may indicate that at some point they shared a common lineage or that the families were united through marriage, thus consolidating similar compound surnames.
In terms of regional adaptations, in some areas of Latin America, especially in countries with strong indigenous influence or other colonizations, surnames may have undergone changes in pronunciation or writing, although in general, the Spanish patronymic tradition has maintained the structure in most cases.
In conclusion, the surname Pérez-Díaz, due to its structure and distribution, can present various variants, but all of them maintain the patronymic and, in some cases, toponymic root, which reflect its origin in the Spanish onomastic tradition and its subsequent expansion through migratory and colonial processes.
