Casado

This is a surname which is probably unique, at least there does not appear to be anything quite like it in any other country of Europe. The name translates as "The head of the household" from the Roman (Latin) "casa" meaning house. It is in fact a nickname, and quite why the original name holders came by it, is open to speculation. The medieval period was known for its lusty and often lewd (Chaucerian!) attitudes to what the 20th century tends to regard as the finer points of the social structure. Sometimes it is quite impossible to accurately judge the true meaning, and "Casado" certainly comes into that category. However as the name is well recorded from at least the 16th century, and has at least one coat of arms granted to it, it may be reasonably assumed that the meaning was complimentary. The coat of arms from Spain is a silver field, with the blazon of a blue fess charged with a silver knights spur, between three red roses, arranged two and one. This suggests a sincere (white) person, who is loyal in command (blue fesse) whilst the rose is regarded as the first amongst the flowers. The knights spur indicates rank. The epicentre of the surname is the Valladolid region of Spain, almost all early recordings being from that area. These include Ana Conde Casado, christened at Arrabal de Portillo, Valladolid on July 17th 1675, whilst on July 15th 1800, Clara Casado married Miguel Martin at Castrillo-Teferigo, Valladolid, at the beginning of the Peninsula War. (1800 - 1812). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alonso Casado, which was dated February 27th 1575, married Ana Gonzales at Velilla, Valladolid, Spain, during the reign of King Phillip 11 of Spain (1555 - 1598). Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.