Anastacio Alvarez, Sr.

My dad will always be my hero. He was a strict man but I am the better for it.

I love him very much.

Daniel

Anastacio was named after his uncle who died at the young age of 20 from pneumonia brought on from crossing the river between Texas and Mexico. (Miguel Alvarez - info provide by his half-brother Rene).

Álvarez is a patronimic surname, meaning 'son of Alvar', of spanish and portuguese origin. It is an ancient surname which has different origins in different times and places in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Age. According to the Spanish genealogist Fernando González Doria in his 'Nobiliary Dictionary' the most ancient branch seems to be 'Álvarez de Asturias', in the northern Spanish region of Asturias. With the 'Reconquista' or spanish war against the Moores during seven centuries, the name spread through the Iberian Peninsula. The most important Álvarez branches in America can be found in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It is very difficult to assure which is the most ancient lineage in America because when the Conquest of America started the name was very common and many Spaniards with that name made the journey to the New World. In Mexico one of the most important lineages is the 'Álvarez de la Campana' family, originary of La Coruña.

The difference with other modern colonizations is that in South America many Spaniards married indigenous people (think in the typical 'Mestizo' population you find in South America, not in North America, Africa or India). The name was incorporated by the indigenous population mainly from fathers to sons and also for burocratic purposes (the use of last names was not an indigenous custom)