Ancient history

Where does the last name saavedra come from?

Saavedra is a toponymic surname of Spanish origin, derived from the name of a town in Galicia, Spain. The name Saavedra is thought to be derived from the Latin words "saxum" (meaning "rock") and "arva" (meaning "field"), and is thus thought to refer to a rocky field. The surname Saavedra is first recorded in the 12th century, and has been associated with a number of notable historical figures, including the Spanish conquistadors Hernán Cortés and Pedro de Alvarado, and the Chilean independence leader Bernardo O'Higgins.