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Araiza's Genealogy

My father was born in Etzatlan, Jalisco, Mexico, on February 6, 1904. His parents were Juan Araiza and Maximiana Fregoso. My dad's grandparents were Juan Jose Araiza and Fransisca Reynoso (paternal side) and Felipe Fregoso and Atanasia Fernandez (maternal side).

My grandfather had eleven siblings: Jose de Jesus, Jose Teodoro, Jose Paulino, Jose Martin, Maria Eufemia, Maria Abundia, Juan Jose, Francisca , and others.Their last names were Araiza Reinoso, which means that their mother's maiden name was Reynoso. My grandfather was the seventh born of this marriage. Jose Teodoro was the Municipal President in Talpa in the year 1876.

My grandmother Maximiana was born around 1864 in Soyatlan, Jalisco, Mexico. She had three children. The firstborn was Felicitas Araiza Fregoso, who was born in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico in 1886. In addition, she had my dad Ramon and a boy named Jose Maria. My grandmother passed away on May 24, 1950. She lived to a ripe age of 86 according to the death certificate. The doctor who signed the death certificate was Jose Garcia Malo. (I remember that name) she is buried at the Panteon Jardin de Mexico, fosa numero 6, fila 132, seccion 3-b. I remember very little about her since I was three years old at the time of her passing. I just learned from my cousin Ignacio Lopez that all my relatives, including my godfather, are buried in the Panteon Jardin located in Mexico City.

Felicitas passed away on September 15, 1956. She was eighteen years old when my dad was born in 1904.

Felicitas, my dad's sister (pictured below) , had several children. Her children were Raul Camba, Consuelo Estrada, Olivia, and Margarita. When I was a kid, I met Raul and Olivia. Olivia has a son named Ignacio Lopez Camba. Ignacio, whose nickname is Nacho, is a great friend from my childhood. I had a wonderful telephone conversation with nacho on Sunday May 2, 2021. I had not heard from him in fifty-four years. 

 I am so excited to have befriended Patricia Figueroa Prothero. She is the daughter of Alfredo Figueroa Marti and Teresa Camba. Patricia"s grandfather was Raul Camba.

I do not know the name of the child who is being so lovingly held my aunt Felicitas.





The dedication written in the back of the picture reads: I dedicate this picture with all my love to my brother. Signed: Felicitas. The picture is dated Mexico City, March 27, 1939. The infant in her arms could very well be my cousin Raul.

Origin of the Araiza surname.

I have not been able to find Araiza in internet searches in the country of Spain. However, a name that is similar is Ariza, which appears in lists of Sefardies (Spanish Jews) eligible for re-admission to Spain. 

According to a Soraya Redondo Antolin, La Taberna Literaria,  the name Ariza is originally from a town in Zaragoza, Spain, which bears the same name. According to local folklore, ten members of the Ariza clan embarked a small sail boat bound to Oran, Algeria. Eventually, they departed to Naples, Italy. (Soraya.redondoantolin@facebook.com).




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