De Marchena is a surname that can be traced back to medieval Spain and Netherlands. The name is derived from the Spanish word "marcha," which means "border" or "frontier." The De Marchena family was originally from the region of Castile and settled in the town of Marchena, located in the province of Seville.
.svg) Official De Marchena shield | |
| Pronunciation | deh mar-CHAY-nah |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Visigothic/Ancient Germanic, Spanish |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | "border" or "frontier" |
| Region of origin | Spain Netherlands |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Van Marchena |
Origin
editAccording to genealogical records, the De Marchena family was among the first to arrive in the New World during Spanish colonization. Family members played prominent roles in establishing the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean, including Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Both the Van Marchena and De Marchena surnames are essentially the same, originating from the same source. The surnames are believed to have been derived from the place name Marchena, which is located in the province of Seville in southern Spain. The region was a borderland between Christian and Muslim territories during the medieval period, and the name "Marchena" is thought to have referred to a frontier or boundary.[1]
Over time, individuals with the surname Marchena migrated to other parts of the world, including the Netherlands. In the Dutch language, the "De" prefix is used to indicate "of" or "from", and so the surname evolved into Van Marchena, with the "Van" indicating "from" or "originating from" Marchena. Despite this slight difference in naming convention, both surnames can be traced back to the same family lines in Spain.[2]
Notable Members
editOne notable member of the De Marchena family was Francisco De Marchena, who was a member of Christopher Columbus's crew during his second voyage to the New World. Francisco was also a cartographer and is credited with creating some of the earliest maps of the Caribbean islands.
Another notable member of the family was Georg Van Marchena was a German politician. He was a member of the Reichstag for the NSDAP during 1933 - 1945 and SS-Brigadeführer. From 1942 until his death in 1945, Georg Van Marchena was chief of police in Dortmund.
- ^ "Marchena. Name Meaning & Marchena. Family History at Ancestry.com®". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ "Van Marchena. Name Meaning & Van Marchena. Family History at Ancestry.com®". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.