Origin of the surname Quartas

Origin of the Surname Quartas

The surname Quartas presents a geographical distribution that, according to available data, shows a notable presence in countries such as Argentina, Portugal, the United States, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The highest incidence is found in Argentina and Portugal, with a value of 4 each, followed by the United States with an incidence of 2, and to a lesser extent in Canada, Colombia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with incidences of 1 each. This distribution suggests that the surname has roots that could be related to both the Spanish-speaking world and the Portuguese sphere, in addition to having reached other countries through migratory and colonial processes.

The significant presence in Argentina and Portugal, along with its appearance in countries with a history of colonization or migration from these regions, allows us to infer that the most probable origin of the surname Quartas is found in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Galicia or in areas near Portugal. The coincidence in distribution with Spanish and Portuguese speaking areas reinforces this hypothesis. The expansion towards countries such as the United States, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia and the Philippines can be explained by the migratory movements of recent decades, as well as by colonization and trade in the case of Asian regions.

Etymology and Meaning of Quartas

From a linguistic analysis, the surname Quartas seems to have roots in the Romance language, specifically in the Iberian area. The structure of the surname suggests a possible relationship with terms related to land or agriculture, given that in Portuguese and Galician, the word quartas may be linked to the idea of "quarters" or "quarters", which in historical and rural contexts referred to divisions of land or agricultural plots.

The term quartas in Portuguese and Galician, in its plural form, may derive from the Latin root quartus, which means "quarter" or "fourth part". In historical contexts, especially in the Middle Ages, quartas were divisions of land that were used for agriculture or territorial organization. Therefore, the surname could be classified as toponymic, derived from a place or geographical feature related to these rural divisions.

In terms of its classification, Quartas is probably a toponymic surname, since its root in terms of land and territorial division indicates an origin in a specific place or in a system of land distribution. The presence of this word in the Portuguese and Galician language, with a meaning linked to agricultural organization, reinforces this hypothesis. Additionally, the plural form suggests that it could have been used to identify people who lived in or were related to an area known as "the quarters."

In summary, the surname Quartas seems to have an origin in the rural toponymy of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in regions where the organization of land in quarters or plots was common. The Latin root quartus and its use in Romance languages reinforce this hypothesis, placing its origin in an agricultural and territorial context.

History and Expansion of the Surname

The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Quartas allows us to assume that its origin is in the Iberian Peninsula, probably in Galicia or in areas near Portugal. The presence in these regions, where Romance languages and agricultural traditions have historically been predominant, suggests that the surname may have emerged in a rural context, associated with the organization of lands and the identification of families or communities linked to specific plots.

During the Middle Ages, in the Iberian Peninsula, territorial and agricultural organization was fundamental for the economy and social structure. The existence of terms such as quartas in the local lexicon indicates that this concept was known and used in everyday life. It is likely that the surname was formed in that period, as a way of identifying individuals or families who resided in or were related to these land divisions.

The expansion of the surname to other countries can be explained by various migratory processes. Emigration from Galicia and Portugal to Latin America, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, was significant, and many surnames of rural and toponymic origin moved to these regions. The high incidence in Argentina, for example, mayreflect the arrival of families who carried this surname in search of new opportunities in the American continent.

On the other hand, the presence in countries such as the United States, Canada, Indonesia and the Philippines may be related to more recent migrations, as well as colonial and commercial expansion. The presence in the Philippines and Indonesia, in particular, may be due to Portuguese and Spanish influence in these territories during the 16th to 18th centuries, when sea routes and colonization facilitated the spread of surnames and cultural terms.

In short, the history of the surname Quartas reflects a process of rural origin in the Iberian Peninsula, followed by an expansion motivated by migrations and colonizations, which have brought this surname to various regions of the world today.

Variants of the Surname Quartas

In the analysis of the variants of the surname Quartas, it can be considered that, given its origin in a word related to land and territorial organization, the spelling forms have been relatively stable in the Portuguese and Galician speaking regions. However, in contexts of migration and adaptation to other languages, some phonetic or graphic variations could have occurred.

A possible variant is Quartas in its plural form, which may have been simplified or modified in some historical records or in different countries. In Spanish-speaking countries, there may be some adapted form, although specific data is not available at this time. The root quartas itself, unchanged, may have been used as a surname in various rural regions, maintaining its original form in historical documents.

In other languages, especially in colonial contexts, the surname could have been phonetically adapted, although there are no clear records of significant variants. However, it is important to note that, in some cases, toponymic surnames related to rural terms tend to retain their original form, especially in regions where the written tradition has been rigorous.

In summary, variants of the surname Quartas are probably minimal, and its original form has been maintained in most regions where it has been recorded. The relationship with rural and toponymic terms favors the orthographic and phonetic stability of the surname over time and in different geographical contexts.