Covarrubias (surname)

Covarrubias is a surname in the Spanish language. It is a surname that indicates place of origin, in particular, in the village and municipality of Covarrubias (province of Burgos, Spain), village that was founded in the 7th century by the visigothic king Chindasuinth.

It is compounded of the words cova (cave),^[1] ruber (red)^[2] and the suffix ia (that has the quality of),^[3] meaning "the cave that is red" or simply "red cave".^[4]

Coat of arms

The familiar coat of arms of this surname was described in 1592 by A. Sales, according to the "Book of Armoria".^[5] This description is for a coat of arms of a Covarrubias family that, in two generations, was to live from the village of Covarrubias to the village of Cocentaina (Province of Alicante, Spain). In fact, the possible first user of this coat of arms was Mr. Diego de Covarrubias Sanz, born in Cocentaina, who in 1590 had to report his family tree in order to be joined to the Spanish Inquisition. The grandfather of Diego, Hernando de Cobarrubias, was born in the village of Covarrubias.^[6] Therefore, Mr. Diego, who used this coat of arms, was the first Covarrubias born in Cocentaina, and his coat of arms can be used by his progeny.

In accordance with the "Book of Armoria", the coat of arms of this branch of the Covarrubias settled in Cocentaina consists in a quartered Spanish shield, of the following characteristics and tinctures:

• 1st field: Azure (blue), with five stars in azure
• 2nd field: Or (gold), with four fess (bands) in gules (red)
• 3rd field: Argent (silver), and a fess in sable (black)
• 4th field: Azure, and a cross in argent

Famous people

Some famous people named Covarrubias are:

• Miguel Covarrubias, Mexican artist, ethnologist and art historian
• Sebastián de Covarrubias, a lexicographer.
• Marita Covarrubias, fictional character from the television series The X-Files

References