De maldonado History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Spain

Etymology of De maldonado

What does the name De maldonado mean?

There are two different opinions about the origin of the surname. Firstly, the De maldonado surname could be derived from the Spanish "mal donado," meaning 'ill-favored," and was no doubt originally a nickname that was adopted as a surname. Nicknames often reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name.

Secondly, some speculate this surname is of patronymic origin, that is, it belongs to those surnames derived from the name of the father of its original bearer. In this instance De maldonado would be the Spanish form of the Irish and Scottish surname "Macdonald", which means "son of Donald". During the eighteenth century and due to the persecutions suffered by the Catholics in Ireland, many of them emigrated to Spain and Portugal. In Spain they settled down mostly in the Basque Country, and in Catalonia.

Today, the name De maldonado can be found all over Spain and the American continent. The old spelling of the surname De maldonado was Maldoado. A family of this surname were descendants of the Lord of Aldana.

Early Origins of the De maldonado family

The surname De maldonado was first found in Galicia, Spain, prominent among the Christian kingdoms of medieval Spain. Nuño Pérez Fernández Maldonado (c. 1150-1215), born in the Church of Santa Maria, Maderuelo, Spain is considered to be the progenitor of the family. He was the 2nd Lord of Maldonado as his father was Pedro Arias de Aldao (1105-1150), born in Galicia, Spain, XII Señor de Aldao. He lived in the reign of D. Fernando II of León and was his Chief Steward and also served King D. Sancho III of Castile, who gave him the government of Madrid and Toledo.

Early History of the De maldonado family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De maldonado research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1158 and 1214 are included under the topic Early De maldonado History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De maldonado Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Maldonado, de Maldonado, Maledonado, de Maledonado, Maldolado and many more.

Early Notables of the De maldonado family

Notable bearers of the family name De maldonado were sixteenth century Spanish military officer Francisco Maldonado; sixteenth century writer Juan Maldonado; eighteenth century Spanish politician and geographer Pedro Vicente...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early De maldonado Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the De maldonado family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francisco Maldonado Dorado del Hierro, who journeyed to America in 1523; and participated in expeditions to Peru and Colombia. Also of note was Diego Maldonado, who voyaged to America in 1546.