Álvarez
Castrelo de Miño · Cartelle · Ribadavia
#9
Rank
80,654
Total in Ourense
1.58%
Percentage
303
Municipalities
The Álvarez Surname in O Ribeiro
Álvarez ranks ninth in the Province of Ourense, with 80,654 occurrences across 303 municipalities. A patronymic meaning "son of Álvaro," it became deeply rooted in medieval Galicia and remains one of the defining surnames of the Ribeiro valleys.
Within the target municipalities of this project, Álvarez is especially strong in Cartelle with 501 bearers (6.89%), Castrelo de Miño with 263 (6.43%), and Arnoia with 165 (6.70%). Ribadavia records a smaller modern share at 1.98%, yet the surname appears in 10.34% of Ribadavia Inquisition trials, showing its deep historical presence in the district.
In the documented family tree, Álvarez is the core surname of the archive, anchoring the main paternal line and connecting repeatedly with the Rodríguez, Fernández, and Méndez branches across Castrelo de Miño and Cartelle.
Municipal Distribution in O Ribeiro
| Municipality | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Cartelle | 501 | 6.89% |
| Castrelo de Miño | 263 | 6.43% |
| Ribadavia | 218 | 1.98% |
| Arnoia, A | 165 | 6.70% |
| Cenlle | 75 | 2.34% |
| Leiro | 68 | 1.73% |
| Beade | 22 | 1.91% |
Core Line in the Alvarez Family Tree
Álvarez forms the central line of the archive, with the strongest documented branches in Castrelo de Miño and Cartelle and repeated marriages into the Rodríguez, Fernández, and Méndez families.
Castrelo de Miño
16 (15.4% of family members)
Cartelle
8 (20.5% of family members)
Inquisition Records
The Álvarez surname appears frequently in Ribadavia and Portuguese Inquisition records, reflecting the surname's importance in the converso and merchant history of the Ribeiro.
Ribadavia trials
10.34%
Portugal trials
4.84%
Álvarez: Álvarez and Alvarez (without accent) refer to the same surname. Modern databases often drop the accent, while parish and archival records preserve both forms.