Lorenzo de Arrau
Lorenzo de Arrau (1735-1781), Spanish Engineer sent to Chile by Carlos III, King of Spain. He arrived to Chile around 1768, apparently accompanying Ambrosio O'Higgins, Viceroy of Perú and father of Bernardo O'Higgins, the "Father" of the Chilean Independence. He married Isabel de Santa María y Baeza, from a prominent family of the local aristocracy, and they had six children: Juan (single), Pedro Juan (ancestor of pianist Claudio Arrau), Clara, Juana, Cruz, Manuela Bárbara (nun).
His son Pedro Juan married Carmen Daroch, a descendant of Reverend John Darroch and Elizabeth Campbell.
The origins of the Arrau can be found in Provence. They were originally Sephardi Jewish and the original surname was Arrault, but when they moved to Barcelona they dropped the "lt" to sound more Spanish. After the moors were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula, some members of the family escaped to Turkey, where there can still be found. Other branch of the family converted to Catholicism and remained in Spain. From this second branch the Chilean Arraus descend.
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