Origin of Muñoz

This surname descends, according to some writers, from the Roman knight Lucio Murio. For others of the Royal House of Scotland and there are still others who consider him a descendant of Count Muñón Rodríguez, who vitiated in the 750s.

Let's start with the version of the Roman Lucio Murio. who was this character? In the history of Rome there were many characters with the name of Lucio. This one, of whom we are told, seems to have been a consul. A Lucius, Lucius Veo Augustas, was a Roman Emperor (161-169). Studying his biography, a character named Lucio Murino appears, who was, apart from being a consul, advisor to the aforementioned emperor. Was this the Lucio Murio of whom some writers speak as the progenitor of the surname Muñoz? The only thing that changes is the Murio, for the Murino. Certainly, other Romans with the name Lucio were in what was then called Hispania, but the addition Murio appears in none of them.

In the second assumption that he descends from the Royal House of Scotland, on what grounds are the writers based? Scotland was originally inhabited by Celtic peoples, as was Galicia in Spain. The Roman legate Julio Agrícola led a series of campaigns against Scotland, starting from the north of Great Britain. Expelled by the Romans by the Picts, it was the Scotti, coming from Ireland, who founded the kingdom of Dalriada. Saint Columban, who arrived from Ireland in 563, ensured the triumph of Christianity. The Scottish monarchy counts Malcolm among its first kings (there were up to three monarchs with that name). Are those who maintain that the surname Muñoz is related to the Scottish Royal House referring to that monarch, Malcom, who over time degenerated into Muñoz? Because if we follow the list of Scottish kings, there is not a single name that bears the slightest resemblance to Muñoz. Therefore, it seems difficult to believe this origin of Muñoz.

The third version, that the trunk of the Muñoz family is based on Count Muñón Rodríguez, seems the most credible, due to Muñón's resemblance to Muñoz. The date that is given as a contemporary of this character, year 750, coincides with the beginning of the first nuclei of resistance, against the invading Muslims, under the protection of the Cantabrian mountains, year 722, the date of the beginning of the Asturian kingdom. As the dates coincide, it is possible that he was one of the gentlemen who accompanied Don Pelayo.

The knight Muñoz, of Asturian origin and accompanied by the knight Blázquez, came down by order of Alfonso VI to populate Ávila, in 1088, and then his descendants, after the conquest of Baeza when Fernando III gave them estates and lands in 1227, they changed their last name to Adalid, a job in which Domingo Muñoz distinguished himself in the conquest of Córdoba. Likewise, another gentleman, also a descendant of the Asturian Muñoz family, was called Acero, due to his great physical strength, which he later took as his last name. Jimena Muñoz, Alfonso VI's concubine who belonged to the Guzmanes house, belonged to this lineage.

Mossén Jaime Febrer quotes him in the Trovas: The Muñozes de Hinojosa came to Teruel to fight against the Moors. They were noble noblemen, and of illustrious quality. Then they went to Valencia, assisting King Jaime I of Aragon, for whose generosity they received great prizes, as a reward for having served him twenty years in the war.

The same author also mentions Pedro Muñoz who led those who came from Burgos. His father found himself in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, together with Calatrava, in which, surrendering thirty Moors, he put him in shackles. His son Pedro, imitating such brave feats, did the same as his father; and in the siege of Biar, with intrepidity he unlocked the doors of him.

Febrer also quotes Enrique Muñoz. His grandfather found himself in the actions of Jaca and Huesca, freeing King Pedro the Magnanimous with his sword, at the time when he was surrounded by the Moors between two mountains, without finding a way out. When Muñoz saw that he was a captain, and four soldiers that he had with him, he said in a loud voice: To them, who are few; and attacking them, they gave their lives to the King, who rewarded them without measure.

The knights of this family were lords of the baronies of Villamalur, Ayodar (a Moorish place), Escrig, Quart, Simacárcer (a Moorish place), Masalfasar.

Francisco Muñoz, Lord of the place of Quart, documented in the year 1410. (A.R.V. Baylía General, parchment no. 307).

Dionisio Muñoz, Lord of the barony of Escrig (Escriche), documented in the year 1627.

Francisco Muñoz, olim Artés, Lord of Villamalur and of the barony of Ayodar, documented in the year 1674.

Pedro Munyoz (Muñoz) from Morlanes and Pamplona, ​​founds a link with his assets with the obligation to carry thename and coat of arms of the Muñoz, on February 26, 1615, before the notary Juan Miguel Tris, in Calatayud. He married in first nuptials, with Juana del Castillo; and in second with Juana Pérez de Muro.

Gómeç Munyoç (Gomicius Moinoz), from Terol (Teruel), received on July 22, 1237, some houses and all the estate of Aven Jacob Betalaxerif. On April 26, 1238, he received two houses in Valencia, eleven houses and thirty jovadas in the Rambla farmhouse.

In Francisco Muñoz, Lieutenant of the «potanveus» of the Governor General of the Kingdom of Valencia, receives a date from Bernat Çalopa, Lieutenant of the Mestre Racional, on February 8, 1393 (A.R.V. General Bailía, perg. 223).

In Gil Monyoz, a citizen, he lived in the parish of Santa María in the city of Valencia in the year 1512. (The census of 1510).

In Jaime Muños, citizen, resident of Valencia, registered on November 18, 1633, in the 1st bag of citizens who had already been sworn.

The discreet in Juan Munyoz, notary, Justice of the 300 salaries in the year 1526.

In Francech Muyós, lieutenant of the Criminal Justice in the year 1580.

Mícer Luis Munyós, advisor to the Criminal Justice in the year 1630.

In Juan Muñós (Ferrandis), knight, sworn in the years 1355-56.

Mosen Francisco Munyoz, gentleman, Mustazaf in the years 1404-05, in the years 1414-15.

Mosen Ferrando Munyos, Mustazaf in the years 1410-11.

In Nofre Muñoz, citizen, Administrator of the impositions in the year 1481.

In Alfonso Muñoz, merchant, Worker of Murs i Valls in e.

In Agustín Monyos, lieutenant of the Mustazaf in the years 1517-18.

In Jaime Munyoz, citizen, sworn in the years 1632-33, in those of 1635-36.

Mosén Francesc Muñós (Francisco Munyoz), is elected Mustazaf of the city of Valencia on September 28, 1404 and in 1414.

Mosen Ferrando Muñós, knight, elected Mustazaf of the city of Valencia on September 28, 1410.

Francí Monyós, brother of the lord of Ayodar; Rodrigo Monyós, Lord of Ayodar, appears in the label of the military arm of the city of Valencia in 1512 (El Cens de 1510).

Baltasar Johan Monyós and his mother, the widow of Mosén Francés Monyós, appear in the line of the military arm of the city of Valencia in 1512 (El Cens de 1510).

Frey Álvaro Muñoz, a native of Valencia, entered the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1645.

José Muñoz y Maldonado, Santiago y Menéndez, native of Alicante, Knight of the Order of Carlos III by decree of the year 1830.

The surname Muñoz, has repeatedly proven its nobility and purity of blood, at various times, in the Military Orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcántara, Carlos III and San Juan de Jerusalén; in the Royal Chancelleries of Valladolid and Granada, as well as in the Royal Company of Marine Guards.