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Origin of the Surname Pérez-Serrabona
The compound surname Pérez-Serabona presents a geographical distribution that, according to available data, shows a higher incidence in Spain, with a value of 19 on the incidence scale. The presence in Latin American countries, although not specified in the data provided, is probable given Spain's migratory and colonial history in the region. The concentration in Spanish territory suggests that the origin of the surname is probably located in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in one of the regions where compound and patronymic surnames are common. The structure of the surname, which combines a patronymic with a possible toponym, allows us to infer that its origin may be linked to a family that, in addition to having a patronymic name, was also related to a geographical place called Serrabona.
The history of the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by a long tradition of forming surnames from given names, places and occupations, favors the hypothesis that Pérez-Serrabona has roots in the Middle Ages, when the consolidation of surnames became common in the region. The significant presence in Spain, together with the subsequent colonial expansion, would explain its possible dispersion in Latin America. In short, the current distribution reinforces the hypothesis of a Spanish origin, with a probable link to some specific locality or region that has given its name to the second part of the surname.
Etymology and Meaning of Pérez-Serrabona
The surname Pérez-Serabona is composed of two clearly differentiated elements that allow a deep etymological analysis. The first part, "Pérez", is a patronymic surname that is widespread in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in Spain and in some Latin American countries. It comes from the proper name "Pedro", with the addition of the suffix "-ez", which in old Spanish indicates "son of". Therefore, "Perez" literally means "son of Peter." This patronymic pattern is characteristic of Spanish tradition and other Spanish-speaking countries, where the ending "-ez" was used to form surnames that indicated descent from an ancestor with a specific name.
The second part, "Serrabona", seems to have a toponymic or descriptive origin. The root "Serr-" could derive from "serra", which in Catalan and in some variants of Spanish means "saw" or "mountain". The ending "-bona" in Catalan means "good." Therefore, "Serrabona" could be interpreted as "good mountain range" or "favorable mountain", referring to a geographical place characterized by a mountain range or a mountainous area with positive or outstanding characteristics. The structure suggests that the surname may have originally been toponymic, indicating that the family resided in or came from a place called Serrabona, or that the name was adopted for some reason related to that region.
As for the type of surname, "Pérez" is clearly patronymic, while "Serrabona" would be toponymic. The combination of both elements indicates that the surname is a compound surname, which was probably formed at a time when it was common to unite the name of an ancestor with a place of residence or origin, thus forming a surname that identified both ancestry and geographical origin.
From a linguistic point of view, "Pérez" is related to the Castilian language, while "Serrabona" has roots in Catalan or nearby dialects, which could indicate an origin in regions where these languages are spoken, such as Catalonia, Valencia or the Balearic Islands. The presence of the root "serra" and the ending "-bona" reinforce this hypothesis, although it could also be a form adapted in other areas of northern Spain or in areas with Catalan influence.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The probable origin of the surname Pérez-Serabona is located in some region of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, where the Romance languages, especially Catalan, have had a significant historical presence. The formation of the surname, combining a patronymic with a toponym, suggests that its appearance could date back to the Middle Ages, when families began to adopt surnames that reflected both their lineage and their place of residence or property.
The presence of the element "Serrabona" in the surname indicates that the family may have had links with a town or a territory characterized by a mountain range or mountainous area called Serrabona. The history of these regions, many of them in mountainous and rural areas, favored the formation of surnamestoponyms that helped distinguish families in contexts of low population and limited mobility.
The expansion of the surname, in its compound form, was probably favored by internal migratory movements in the peninsula, as well as by colonization and emigration to America during the 16th and 17th centuries. Spanish colonization in Latin America brought with it numerous Spanish surnames, especially those with roots in regions with a strong patronymic and toponymic tradition, such as the one that seems to correspond to Pérez-Serrabona.
The current distribution, with a high incidence in Spain and a possible presence in Latin American countries, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname originated in a community in northeastern Spain, where Catalan and Castilian influence are intertwined. The dispersion in America would be the result of migrations and colonizations, which led the family to settle in different territories of the New World, maintaining the surname as a symbol of their lineage and origin.
In summary, the history of the Pérez-Serabona surname reflects a process of formation in the Middle Ages, with roots in the mountainous regions of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, and a subsequent expansion through the migratory and colonizing movements that characterized the history of Spain and its colonial territories.
Variants and Related Forms of the Surname Pérez-Serrabona
As is the case with many compound surnames of toponymic origin, Pérez-Serrabona can present various spelling variants and regional adaptations. It is likely that alternative forms have been recorded in different regions or in historical documents, such as "Perez de Serrabona", "Pérez de la Sierra Bona" or even abbreviations and phonetic modifications that reflect the linguistic particularities of each area.
In other languages, especially in contexts where the surname has been transferred to English-, French-, or Italian-speaking countries, it may have been adapted to different phonetic or graphic forms, although in general, compound surnames tend to remain relatively stable in their original form in official records.
There are also related surnames that share a root or structure, such as "Pérez" alone, which is one of the most common patronymics in the Hispanic world, or similar toponymic surnames that contain mountain elements or geographical places, such as "Montes" or "Sierra". The relationship with these surnames can be useful to understand the evolution and dispersion of the surname in different cultural and linguistic contexts.
In short, the variants of the Pérez-Serabona surname reflect both the history of the language and writing in the different regions where it has settled, as well as the phonetic and graphic adaptations that have emerged over time in different communities. Preserving the original form in historical records and official documents would be key to tracing your genealogy and better understanding your family history.
