The surname Arrazola (''also written as: de Arrazola, Arraçola, Arazola, Arazzola, etc.'') traces back to the Gipuzkoa province of Spain and stems from an historic family of lower Spanish nobility. A number of its members fulfilled high governmental, administrative and military functions in the Spanish Empire. While still present in current day Spain, name-bearers can also be found in

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

, Mexico and Belgium.

Origin

The earliest proof of the name Arrazola that refers to this specific family is a made in court cases before the Royal Audiencia and Chancillería of Valladolid from the early 15th century. Proofs of nobility (' Uradel') issued in the 16th and 17th century however let the genealogy ascend up into the 14th century. A number of original written references confirm these roots, but remain currently unlinked to each other making it unclear where the true origins lie. Most of the family members originally lived on the axis between Arrasate, Oñati and Arrazola, of which the family name stems and still holds the historic family seat. Those that received higher education moved from this area to the bigger cities, such as Valladolid and Vitoria-Gasteiz. Several members of the Arrazola family held public functions throughout the years in both the local region, as the capitals of Madrid and Valladolid. The extensive genealogy, and the exercise of public functions made this family a prime example of ''Hidalgos Solariego'': they were considered most noble, were exempted from paying taxes, yet owned little real property. This was confirmed by several courts from 1711 to 1793, and by the Royal Chancillería of Valladolid in 1783.

Branches

Through the functions held by a couple of Arrazolas in the Spanish national government, other family members gained preferential access to attractive positions. While Bernabe Arrazola, for example, was Private Secretary to

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

in Madrid, Philips only daughter was sent to the Spanish Netherlands with a large household, in which Bernabe's younger brother Juan Alexandro was Isabella's personal chamberlain. This resulted in a number of branches being established throughout the world, notably the regions that once were under Spanish influence:

, Mexico and Belgium. While originally Spanish, the branches that established themselves abroad were historically arguably the most significant. Both the branches of Arrazola de Oñate in the Low Countries and

Arrazola de Mondragon The surname Arrazola (''also written as: de Arrazola, Arraçola, Arazola, Arazzola, etc.'') traces back to the Gipuzkoa province of Spain and stems from an historic family of lower Spanish nobility. A number of its members fulfilled high governm ...

in the

Grand Duchy of Tuscany The Grand Duchy of Tuscany ( it, Granducato di Toscana; la, Magnus Ducatus Etruriae) was an Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Republic of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In th ...

brought forward a number of military leaders, feudal lords and high ranking councillors.C.Stroobant, Notice Historique et Genealogique sur les Seigneurs de Tyberchamps, 1851, Dehou, Brussels, p.249-261

Notable Members

In historic order: *

Fabio Arrazola de Mondragone '' D.'' Fabio Arrazola de Mondragone (Aversa, 1539 - Naples, 1586), also known as The Marquess of Mondragone, was an Italian nobleman of Spanish descent who was an important figure in the court of Francesco I de' Medici until his exile in 1575. His ...

(± 1525 - 1586), Private tutor of

Francesco I de' Medici Francesco I (25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587) was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 until his death in 1587. He was a member of the House of Medici. Biography Born in Florence, Francesco was the son of Cosimo I de' Medic ...

and Knight in the Order of Santiago. * Juan Alexandro de Arrazola de Oñate (1580-1653), chamberlain of the Infante Isabella in the Spanish Netherlands. * Juan de Arrazola: Royal Governor of

Spanish Florida Spanish Florida ( es, La Florida) was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery. ''La Florida'' formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, ...

. * Marc-Albert Arrazola de Oñate (1612-1674), Knight and Mayor of the Franc of Bruges * Jean-Jacques Arrazola de Oñate (1615-1688), Knight, Supreme

Intendant An intendant (; pt, intendente ; es, intendente ) was, and sometimes still is, a public official, especially in France, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. The intendancy system was a centralizing administrative system developed in France. In ...

and private secretary to Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria * Grace Angelique Arrazola de Oñate (1676-1746), Marquess of Montpuillan and Bouchet * Jean Nepomucène Arrazola de Oñate (1784-1861),

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...

of Meldert and member of the Limburg Ridderschap of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands * '' D.'' Lorenzo Arrazola (1797-1873), 50th Prime Minister of Spain, 9th and 13th President of the Spanish Supreme Court, knight of the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece ( es, Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, german: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1430, to celebrate his marriage ...

References

{{Reflist Surnames Basque-language surnames