Ortega
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2008) |
 Ortega shield | |
| Language(s) | Spanish-Italian |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Meaning | "Lucky Person" |
| Region of origin | Spain, within the Autonomous Communities of: Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria, Castile, Galicia, Navarre, La Rioja, and León. |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Ortega, de Ortega, Ortegada, Ortegal, Hortega, Ortiga, Ortigueda, Ortigueira, Ortigosa, and Orreaga |
Ortega is a Spanish surname. Ortega has been said to have come from the root Latin word Ortun, meaning Lucky Person. Another meaning of the name Ortega has come from the word Urtica, a Nettle plant with venomous needles. It is also known that the name Ortega means "those born under the sign of the Grouse," a species of Galliform. Some of the Ortega spelling variants are: Ortega, de Ortega, Ortegada, Ortegal, Hortega, Ortiga, Ortigueda, Ortigueira, Ortigosa, Orreaga, etc.
Origin
The surname Ortega comes from King Don (honorific) Ramiro II of León and Countess Doña Ortigueda of Santa Marta de Ortigueira and Monterroso; who gave their daughter Princess Doña Ortega Ramirez to Duke Don (honorific) Gustivo González, son of Duke Don (honorific) Nuño "Belchides" Ordoñez of León, son of King Don (honorific) Ordoño I of Asturias. This lineage extended by diverse regions of Spain, mainly by both Castile, Aragon and Navarre, later to America in the 16th Century. The bloodline of the Ortegas is known to be sangre azul, and has been connected to the Spanish Crown for generations. The tribes or civilizations found tied to the Ortegas are the Aquitani, Banu Qasi, Cantabri, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Romans, Vascones, and the Visigoths. The Ortega surname has also been tied to the gens Valerius, said to be because of the Ortegas' Spanish-Italian background. The bloodline would take the matronymic surname, which in old Spain was not uncommon. Count Don (honorific) Nuño Gustioz Ortega is the ancestor of the Ortega line, one of two sons by Princess Doña Ortega Ramirez and Duke Don (honorific) Gustivo González. The second son is Count Don (honorific) Gonzálo Gustioz Ortega of Lara, from the story The Seven Infants of Lara.
Coat of Arms
Ortega's coat of arms consists of two gold fleur de lis in a blue background (not tied to the French Monarchy), two black wheels in gold background, and 8 black ermine marks in a white background (not tied to Brittany). The timber of the shield is marked by a Knightly helm with three ostrich feathers and a armored arm holding a sword, above a Crown of the Count (not pictured). The same Coat of Arms can be found by the Ortega's who moved to México, whose Coat of Arms has been added to numerous other families. These Ortega's are known as the Counts of Santa Marta of Ortigueira and Monterroso, The Valley of Oploca and El Peñasco. The earliest record of these Ortega's can be found in the Geneology of México; most notably is the son of the Count of Santa Marta of Ortigueira and Monterroso, Don (honorific) Jose Ortega and his wife Doña Maria Gertrudis Martinez and Navarro, Count Don (honorific) Francisco Ortega and Martinez.
The color gold stands for generosity and elevation of the mind. The color white stands for peace and serenity. The color blue stands for truth and loyalty. The color black stands for constancy. The fleur de lis stands for purity and a religious background. The wheel stands for fortune. The ermine spots are marks of dignity and honor. The sword stands for justice and military honor. The armored arm stands for a person with qualities in leadership. The knightly helm stands for protecting the innocent. The ostrich feathers stand for obedience and serenity. The Crown of the Count stands for those who are given a Countship.