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Re: Mendivil Clan

Posted By: E. Mendivil
Date: 11/17/09

In Response To: NORMA HERRERA MENDIVIL SCHIERMEYER * NEW E-MAIL (Norma Herrera Mendivil Schiermeyer)

Buenos Dias, Good Morning.

I am a Mendivil. The surname is indeed a Basque last name. However, it's usage vary from Basque Spain, to Normandy France. In fact, the name itself is thought to have originated in Mendeville France, in Normandy. In the northern Basque country, where they also speak french, Mendi means mountain - a geographic area. Vil or ville in french means town. During the end of the middle ages particularly, people were named by what town they came from or born in, ending with ville, villa, or vil. This was true mostly in Spain (De or ez), Italy (di), and France (De). As the Basque spoke French as well, it is believed that they attached Mendi + ville to form Mendiville. It actually meant from the mountains. But what mountain range? This is where the confusion begins. Some historians believe, that since no specific mountain range was alluded to, this was to be a term for foreigners, most likely from France. These foreigners adopted this last name Mendiville as they settled into Basque country. The spanish, with their particular accent pronounced it Mendivil. With the influx of Spaniards to the new world 1600 - 1700's, along came a Mendiville, or in spanish Mendivil. However, their is (1) record of a Mendi comune in Northern Basque (France) and none in Southern Basque (Spain), from that time. Today, it is called Idauze_Mendi and located in Northern Basque country. This leads us to conclude that if any Mendivils came to the new world during this time, they were most likely French-Basque people that possibly defected to Spain, hence coming to the new world under Spanish sails. Also, there is evidence that Mendivils came aboard French and Spanish vessels during the 1800s. On Ellis Island, New York there is a frenchmen under the name Mendivil, in Puerto Rico & Cuba there are records of Mendivils getting off of Spanish Vessels. However, no doubt the largest group of Mendivils, Mendibils, Mendevils came during the French occupations of Mexico during the mid to late 1800s. Many had settled in Sonora Mexico, a area of vast unclaimed land. However, the latter were mostly French defectors or prisoners of war that ended up staying in areas of Guadalajara, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi. As so, the oldest and largest populace with this last name in the world exists in Mexico. Nevertheless, there exists Mendivils and variations of this surname in Europe, US, Mexico, Canada, Latin America,and the Philippines. All can attribute their ancestry to an uncertain mix of Spanish, Basque, and French influence. The name originated in France. The Basque made it what it is, and the Spanish brought them to the New World. A rich heritage has emerged from the Mendivil Clan of Northern Basque country in France. The crest used is Northern Basque, Mendeville France, or the Old New World Spanish-Mexico crest. Arms are quarterly and gouls. The last bit of history I would like to share with you is this: The Spanish Mendi means "full of mistakes, troubles". The Mendivil Motto carried by a Northern Basque man named Mendiville was "By Disposing of Me, Not by Changing Me". The motto was claimed to have been created in 1273.

I would like to thank family, friends, and colleuges for their help in keeping our last name alive and rich in diginity and for allowing this research. This article will be published in part by Ancestry.com and the UNAM. To My great Grandmother Rosa Cervantes Mendivil, born 1889-1962, El Fuerte, Sinaloa. My Grandmother Rosa Quintana Flores 1906- 1989, Huatabampo, Sonora. My father Trinidad Mendivil, Huatabampo, Sonora. My aunt Alma Mendivil Sol, and my mother Celida Hernandez de Flores. My good friend Victor Hugo Mendevil, Seattle Washington. To the University of Notre Dame, College of Arts & Letters, and the University of Sonora in Hermosillo Sonora, thank you.

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