By Steve G. Apodaca |

I am beginning to dig into this family, and I found a book on google that mentions a Lope de Esparza from Navarra. This is the link: http://books.google.com/books?id=qxAvAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA127&dq=lope+ruiz+de+…

It looks like a compilation of verses that deal with the conquest of Valencia from the Moors, and I wonder if this refers to an ancestor of our Ruiz de Esparza. Granted, this took place in the 1200's but I just found it interesting. Here's the translation of the verse:

Lope de Esparza noble capitan de la guardia Real, vino desde Navarra con su muger e hijos a la conquista de esta ciudad: pintaba en su escudo un sol de oro, atravesado de una flecha, sobre campo verde. Acredito su heroico valor en la accion de la Boatella, donde el Rey D. Jaime fue herido de una saeta; e interpuso su autoridad para que se retirara, y lo llevo a su tienda para curarlo: por lo que agradecido el Rey, le dio a Benafer, libre de todo pecho.

Steve in NC

Jorge Gonzalez esparza. recientemente estuve en pamplona para festejar las fiestas de san fermin y me llamo la atencio ver con frequencia el apellido esparza pordoquier. carniceria esparza. etc. tambien las tradiciones antiguas como los famosos churros que son deliciosos y sin duda la fiesta taurina. El apellido esparza es navarro. Por cierto el sello de el apellido es rojo y blanco con un lobo. muy interesante

For the progenitor of this family I have seen both Sancho Ruiz de Esparza, spouse Juana Zariquiegui, as well as Simon Ruiz de Esparza, and spouse Graciana de Vici.

From both of these are similar lines of descent to Lope Ruiz de Esparza of Aguascalientes. The posted genealogies have either secondary references (some links for which are broken), or no references at all.

Is there any available documentation for this family?

Apparently related to this family (Sancho Ruiz de Esparza) is the little booklet "La Familia de Atondo y la Genealogia de S. Francisco de Javier)" published in Pamplona in 1920. Do a google search for "La Familia de Atondo" and you can down load the pdf. Sancho Ruiz de Esparza, according to this booklet, is the great-great-grandfather of St. Francisco de Javier.

There is nothing on the male descendants of Sancho Ruiz de Esparza in this booklet.

George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA

I have seen some references in internet postings for the Ruiz de Esparza family that cite the Probanza de Hidalguea for (or by?) Dr. J. Leon Helguera.

Does anyone have a copy of this, or know where it exists?

George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA

Thanks for the info George. I'm sure one day, we'll be able to verify the ancestors of Lope. Also, one day, that missing document you refer to will be found.

Steve in NC

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