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There were 3 families with homes ("casas solares") in the town of Elizondo, in what is now the province of Navarra, who, around the year 1500, took the name of the town as their surname. These families were named Sastrearena, Errazuerena and Errotazarena. Our family is descendant from the first of these, the house of Sastrearena. Descendants of all three houses established themselves in the cities of Estrella and Pamplona, in the towns of Burguete and Aoiz, and in the vicinity of Sanguesa, Arnaz and Pamplona. Our branch of the house of Sastrearena settled in Burutain, then Latrasa de Odieta, Artazcoz, Asiain and finally Arazuri, 5km ESE of Pamplona, where two branches of the family still reside.
In Arazuri we were able to photograph the house where the Elizondo-Beraza family lived, at the entrance of the town, near the "Asador Juango", a restaurant owned by descendants of Blasa Elizondo-Beraza, sister of Francisco.
The first (and only as far as we know) Elizondo to emigrate to Cuba was Francisco Elizondo-Beraza. Through Ref 5 we know that Francisco was a proprietor and resident of town and municipality of Palmira, adjacent to Cienfuegos in the Province of Las Villas. Francisco took part in the elections of 6-9 Dec 1878 for the organization of the first government of Palmira, which took place 1 Jan 1879, not long after the Peace of Zanjon which ended the Ten Years War. In these elections he was elected/appointed Secretario Interino (Provisional Secretary), probably pending approval from the Provincial Governor. His wife, Dionisia Gelpi de Elizondo participated in the planning and planting of gardens of the Plaza. Through the next 14 years of the historical record of Palmira, the name of Francisco Elizondo appears frequently, with the position of Second Lieutenant Mayor (Segundo Teniente Alcalde - 1883), Councilman (Concejal - 1887 & 1893), Regent (Regidor - 1888); as well as founder and Director (Vocal - 1879) and later President (1881) of the Recreation Society of Palmira.
The basque name "Elizondo", not common, is composed of the euskera voice "el(e)iza" (iglesia=church) and "ondo" (lado, cerca=near).
The town of Elizondo is a pretty town in the Pyrenees which is the capital and center of the Valley of Baztan. It lies on both sides of the Baztan (also known as Bidasoa) river, and has two stone bridges crossing the river. It is situated on highway route N-121, 58km from Pamplona and only a few kilometers from the French frontier. In 1994 it had a population of 7989. The town is picturesque, with many large noble houses and small palaces adorned with coats of arms. Among these is the Palace of Arizkunenea (or Governors) from the XVI Century, the palace of Datue, the house of the Viceroy, the Town Hall, and the sumptuous parroquial church of Santiago.
References:
- Linajes en Navarra con Escudos de Armas, Vol III - Aurelio Erdozain Gaztelu, Editorial Mogrobejo Zabala, S.A., ISBN 84-921365-1-0.
- Diccionario de Apellidos Españoles - Roberto Faure, Maria Asuncion Ribes & Antonio Garcia, Espasa Calpe S.A., Madrid, ISBN 84-239-2289-8.
- Guia de Navarra - Juan Ramón Corpas Mauleón, El País Aguilar, Madrid, 3a Edición, 1993, ISBN 84-03-59110-1
- Guia Campsa 1994 España - Meydis, Madrid
- Memoria Historica de Palmira y su Partido - Agustin Serize y Medina, Publicaciones del Archivo Nacional de Cuba, La Habana, 1963.