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YBIERNAS - Family Name History The Spanish surname YBIERNAS has a very interesting and unusual history. The name was originally what is called an "Apellido Compuesto". That is to say, YBIERNAS was an element of a surname which was in fact composed of two quite distinct names. "Apellidos Compuestos" or double Names were the result of either the joining together of two linages through marriage or they reflected a patronymic surname and a loponymic surname. Frequently Spanish families, particularly members of the nobility, who bore a surname derived from a patronym or personal name, such as Gonzalez, Fernandez, Garcia, etc. added to this patronym the name of place from where they hailed. (a Loponym). Both names were usually conjoined by the Spanish conjunction “Y”. It would appear that in an earlier age the original bearer of this name discarded the initial element or patrongic and retained the conjunction 'Y' which coalesced with the first letter of the second element or loponym. In this instance, the first element of the original “Apellido Compuesto” is lost, however, “(Y) Biernas is believed to be derived from the loponym “VIERNA” which is located in Municipio Meruelo SANTANDER, CANTABRIA in the north of SPAIN where numerous church bell makers originate.
One should not be surprised that “YBIERNAS” should derive from the place name “VIERNA” as this name in it’s native SPAIN is pronounced BIERNA with YBIERNAS being the plural form. References to the surname YBIERNAS are few, as one would expect, this being an extremely rare name, although we do find a record of the VIERNA family who was listed amongst the Nobility of SPAIN in the Repertorio de Blasones de la Communidad Hispanica by Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent.
BLAZON OF ARMS: Argent, an oak tree verl, frucled or Translation: The oak in ancient times was sacred to the god of thunder, while the druios held the oak in greatest veneration.
CREST: Three ostrich feathers
ORIGIN: SPAIN