As I have shared in other media, a Toribio Hernández de Arellano from Salamanca is documented, whose brother Sebastián initiated litigation concerning his nobility on May 15, 1557. Following Sebastián's death in 1568, his widow and children continued the legal proceedings. Significantly, the presence of the Sánchez surname within their lineage may account for its recurrence among Toribio's immediate descendants.
Sebastián Hernández de Arellano "El Viejo" was a resident of the parish (colación) of San Isidro in Salamanca. He held estates (hacendado) in the municipalities of Villares de la Reina, Castellanos de Moriscos, and Villamayor. He initiated a lawsuit to assert his noble status (hijodalgo) after being appointed to the position of procurador, an office typically associated with commoners (pecheros), which he argued was incompatible with his noble standing.
The relevant legal file (Sala de Hijosdalgo. Caja 0774.0035. Real Chancillería de Valladolid) records testimony stating that Sebastián was married to Isabel Rodríguez and was the father of Antonio, Jerónimo, Sebastián "El Mozo", and Luisa (PARES | Archivos Españoles, to request the file, follow the link and email the Real Chancillería de Valladolid).
His parents were identified as Sebastián Hernández (arrendador), and Águeda Sánchez, both of whom were described as being of noble origin.
His paternal grandfather was Luis Hernández, a resident of Santiuste street in Salamanca who also maintained a residence in Villamayor. In both jurisdictions, he was exempt from taxation due to his "notorious nobility" (notoria hidalguía) and held the offices of sexmero and alcalde de la Santa Hermandad. Luis Hernández was married to Isabel Sierra.
His great-grandfather was Marcos Hernández, a doublet-maker (jubetero) married to Francisca Sánchez, both residents of Salamanca. Contemporary witnesses noted that they comported themselves in the "manner of nobles and dressing as such" (hábito y maneras de hidalgos). Marcos Hernández was of Vizcaíno origin and was sometimes referred to as Marcos Vizcaíno.
Sebastián Hernández de Arellano "El Viejo" had several siblings: Catalina Sánchez de Arellano (also known as Catalina Rodríguez de Arellano), who was married to Juan Rodríguez, syndic (síndico) of the monastery of San Francisco; María Sánchez de Arellano, married to Andrés González; Francisco Hernández de Arellano and Toribio Hernández de Arellano. This Toribio coincides in chronology, geographical association, and patronymics with the individual of the same name, though a definitive identification cannot be asserted without further evidence, such as his last will and testament from Nueva Galicia. It is documented that a Toribio Hernández de Arellano departed for the Indies in 1549 (PARES, having obtained a license issued in Valladolid by officials of the Casa de la Contratación in Seville) and that he is named in a partition of inheritance (hijuela) in Salamanca alongside his siblings. These individuals constitute the known members of the Hernández de Arellano family from Salamanca.
Notably, the document in question omits any reference to the origin of the Arellano toponym. However, I have a hypothesis that I am currently working on.
Best regards,
Erik Andrés Reynoso y Márquez.
Saludos Erik,
Thank you for sharing your information on Toribio Hernandez Arellano. As I continued researching the Toribio Hernandez Arellano from the Golluf family, the cloud over that research has been not ever finding the definitive piece of evidence that they were the same people. Though I thought that it was a only a possible match I continued researching the Golluf/Sanchez family and adding information on their genealogy.
Thanks again for sharing these findings,
Rick A Ricci
Saludos Erik,
Here is a description given at the website of the sword:
“Se sabe que Sebastián Hernández “el Viejo”, labró en Toledo a finales del siglo XVI, según se desprende de los inventarios del príncipe D. Carlos, hijo del rey Felipe II.
Según la lista de Palomares, seguía viviendo en 1637. Curioso pomo muy similar al nº 47 del libro de Norman y que fue utilizado entre 1545 y 1640.
- GUARNICIÓN: de lazo de hierro dorado. Tiene siete guardas y dos patillas al recazo. Los gavilanes son planos, calados y vueltos en sentido contrario, con un escusón de pico en el centro. También plano y con el mismo calado, es el aro o guarda que llega hasta el pomo. Puño de madera ahusado y alambrado con una pequeña virola en la parte superior. Recazo con vaciado para el pulgar. El pomo es cónico, con dos resaltes macizos y otros dos planos y calados. Luce perilla con cuatro lados.
- HOJA: recta. En el tercio fuerte, tres canales con la inscripción repetida de la marca de Hernández “el viejo” y el resto a dos mesas. Toda ella a dos filos hasta la punta.
- INSCRIPCIÓN: DE SEBASTIAN HERNANDEZ TOLEDANO”
The sword was said to belong to Sebastian Hernandez El viejo, and it has his inscription on the sword, but I believe that the Sebastian Hernandez that was living in Toledo and in possession of it in 1637 was his son, Sebastian Hernandez El moso.
You can find a picture of a sword belonging to a Sebastian Hernandez, El Viejo here:
https://blog.tienda-medieval.com/espada-de-lazo-sebastian-hernandez-el-viejo-siglo-xvi/
Thanks again Erik,
Rick A. Ricci
Hello Rick,
Key testimonial evidence from this case includes the deposition of the wife of Sebastián, Isabel Rodríguez. The primary sources for these documents are as follows:
- Hidalguía Litigation Records of Sebastián Hernández de Arellano: Diocese of Valladolid, Spain, registros. FamilySearch. (n.d.). Image 697 of 2416; Group Number: 004132152. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P9-G66B?view=explore
- Testimony of Isabel Rodríguez: Diocese of Valladolid, Spain, registros. FamilySearch. (n.d.). Image 814 of 2416; Group Number: 004132152. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P9-GDWN?view=explore
The central challenge in this genealogical inquiry is the definitive identification of Toribio, who served as alcalde in Santa María de los Lagos. At present, only a document originating from the Audiencia of Nueva Galicia would provide conclusive evidence to determine if this individual is the same Toribio from the Hernández de Arellano family of Salamanca or the one that you reference from Aragón.
This identification is further complicated by parallel lineages. The 1599 Pase a Indias of Francisca de Arellano—wife of Agustín de Contreras, daughter of Inés de Zamora and Pedro Hernández de Arellano, and granddaughter of another Pedro Hernández de Arellano and his wife Francisca Hernández, all from Seville—introduces a contemporaneous family with similar last names (PARES | Archivos Españoles).
A promising avenue for identifying Toribio emerges from the records of the Tercer Concilio Provincial Mexicano (Third Mexican Provincial Council). Within this collection exists the "Memorial de Lagos" dated July 1, 1585. This document mentions Toribio as Alcalde of Santa María de los Lagos, alongside regidores Diego Pérez and Diego Gómez. The memorial states that the officials granted power of attorney to Hernando de Burgos, a deputy from the mines of Zacatecas, to represent them in a petition to the Archbishop of Mexico and Bishop Fray Domingo de Alzola of Nueva Galicia. This was necessary because "El alcalde Hernández" was indisposed and unable to leave the villa.
I have obtained a transcription and an image of the signatures of Diego Gómez and Diego Pérez from this document. However, the complete legajo containing the memorial must be requested to ascertain if Toribio’s signature is present. A comparative analysis of his signature, once located, would be instrumental for his identification in future documents.
Best,
Erik
Toribio Hernandez Arellano’s ancestry