Medrano

Medrano is a Spanish surname of Basque origin derived from the Spanish verb medrar, meaning "to grow, to prosper, to advance, or to improve." It is a surname of high nobility established in the old Kingdoms of Navarre, Aragon, Castile, France, etc. They are all descendants of their progenitor, Prince Andrés Vélaz de Medrano.Caro Baroja, Julio. Etnografía Histórica de Navarra. Vol. 2. Editorial Aranzadi, 1972, pp. 380–381 https://www.fundacioncajanavarra.es/cultura-y-educacion/archivo/etnografia-historica-de-navarra-volumen-II.pdf

Medrano may refer to:

People Notable people with the surname include:

Medieval and early modern nobility María Ramírez de Medrano, Lady of Fuenmayor, wealthy noblewoman in the 12th century, founder of the Commandery, hospital and convent of San Juan de Acre in Navarrete to protect pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, donated some of her lands to the Order of Saint John. Pedro González de Medrano, a Navarrese nobleman who rode in the royal retinue of King Sancho VII of Navarre during the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, where he carried the Medrano family standard. Juan Martínez de Medrano 'The Elder', regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328 AD, Baron and Lord of Arroniz, Sartaguda and Villatuerta, ricohombre of Navarre. Diego López de Medrano y Hurtado de Mendoza, 14th century lawyer, royal steward of John I of Castile, lord of Agoncillo, Velilla and San Martín de Berberana in the Kingdom of Castile and León, and royal ambassador during the 1385 diplomatic mission to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Diego López de Medrano y Zúñiga, a knight and noble, Lord of Fuenmayor, Almarza de Cameros, Azofra and Montalvos in the region of La Rioja, Kingdom of Castile, in the late 14th and early 15th century. Juan Vélaz de Medrano IV, lord of Igúzquiza, Orendáin, Learza, knight and royal chamberlain of King Charles III of Navarre in 1412 and King John II of Aragon and Navarre in 1432. Juan was targeted in a rebellion from his domain in Orendáin. Diego López de Medrano y Vergara, Lord of San Gregorio and Cavañuelas, knight, ricohombre of Castile and a member of His Majesty's Council and a member of the 12 lineages of Soria, father of Luisa de Medrano. Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon, seventh of the name, 16th century nobleman and knight, descendant of the Kings of Navarre and France. Fernando Agustín Vélaz de Medrano y Bracamonte y Dávila, a Spanish nobleman, exile, aristocrat, military officer, and Knight of the Order of Malta, 4th Marquess of Tabuérniga, 15th Marquess of Cañete, 6th Marquess of Fuente el Sol, 8th Marquess of Navamorcuende, 15th Lord of Montalbo, and twice a Grandee of Spain. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Barros, III Marquess of Tabuérniga, unofficial diplomat in England for Spain, Lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, and eventual exile until receiving a royal pardon. Catalina de Medrano, a wealthy noblewoman and a supplier of fine cloth for the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, a businesswoman, the widow of the Lieutenant Governor of Havana, Pedro Barba, and the wife of the famous maritime explorer Sebastian Cabot. Juan de Medrano, a Moorish shoemaker in Ágreda, Soria, known for the extraordinary miracle that occurred during Corpus Christi Day on 20 June 1527 involving a statue of Mary, known as the Virgin of Miracles.

Ecclesiastical leaders

Diego Ros de Medrano, bishop, governor captain general of the Kingdom of Galicia, a Doctor of Theology, and a professor at the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso. He served as a bishop in the Diocese of Ourense for 20.5 years. Juan de Espinosa Medrano, Peruvian author, sacred preacher, professor of theology at the Seminary of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco, playwright, poet, etc. Juan is the most prominent figure of the Literary Baroque of Peru and one of the most important intellectuals from Colonial Spanish America, author of the most famous literary apologetic discourse in the Americas in the 17th century: Apologético en favor de Don Luis de Góngora (1662). Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, born in Madrid, 17th century monk of the Order of Cistercians at the monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce in Clavijo, son of Tomás Fernández de Medrano. Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zenizeros, Lord of Sojuela and Valdeosera, was a 17th-century Spanish cleric, priest, nobleman, and author, recognized for his political treatise, panegyric writings and his service to the Spanish Crown.

Academic and cultural pioneers Luisa de Medrano, poet, philosopher, writer, and the first female professor in Europe and Spain at the University of Salamanca in 1508. Cristóbal de Medrano, composer, organist of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada in Llerena, and Maestro de capillo of the Badajoz Cathedral and Church of San Juan Bautista in Marchena. Author of the Missa voce mea cum sex vocibus manuscript, published by Antonio Baciero in 1594. José Velázquez de Medrano, a Navarrese noble and artist in Logroño and the most significant silversmith of his time during the Spanish Golden Age. Julián Iñiguez de Medrano, poet, playwright, novelist, knight, explorer, author of La Silva Curiosa, courtier of the Kings of Navarre and Queen Marguerite de Valois during the Spanish Golden Age. Pedro de Mena y Medrano, the most prominent sculptor in the Iberian Peninsula in the 17th century, and the owner of the most important sculpting workshop in Granada. Diego Alfonso de Medrano, prominent alchemist tried by the Spanish inquisition. He practiced alchemical medicine in Madrid. He was the tutor of the Duke of Infantado. Antonio Fernando de Medrano, 17th-century Spanish barber-surgeon who practiced in Madrid during the reign of Philip IV, provided medical and surgical services, including bloodletting and minor operations, at a time when barber-surgeons played a crucial role in healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Francisco Medrano (poet), Spanish lyric poet from Seville, considered one of the best of the Spanish imitators of Horace. Sebastian Francisco de Medrano, president and founder of the Medrano Academy (Poetic Academy of Madrid), Spanish Golden Age poet, playwright, priest, treasurer and chaplain of Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Duke of Feria. Giovanni Antonio de Medrano, Major Royal Governor of Mathematics for the Kingdom of Naples, royal architect, General of Battle and teacher of King Charles III and his brothers, the infantes of Spain. Andrés López de Medrano, nobleman, educator, doctor, lawyer, journalist, poet, politician and the first enlightened philosopher of the Dominican Republic. Author of the Treaty of Logic, Elements of Modern Philosophy (1814).

Military leaders Garcí Bravo de Medrano, nobleman and knight, heir to the maternal estate in Atienza, perpetual alcaide of Atienza castle in the late 15th and early 16th century. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, captain of the standing army of the king, royal guard of the king, alcaide and mayor of Amaiur-Maya, knight in the 15th and 16th century. Diego de Medrano, knight of the Order of Santiago and naval commander, served in major 16th-century campaigns including Lepanto, Cyprus, and the Spanish Armada. He was a key figure in Mediterranean warfare and innovations in galley design. Pedro Velaz de Medrano y Manso de Zúñiga, II Lord of Tabuerniga, captain general of the Armada de Barlovento and custodian of the Fleet of New Spain, father of the I Marquess of Tabuerniga. Sebastián Fernández de Medrano, General of Battle, chief engineer of the kingdom, maestro de campo, president and sole-director of the first modern Royal Military and Mathematics Academy of Brussels in Europe during the reign of Charles II of Spain and briefly Philip V of Spain. Martín Juan de Castejón y Medrano, V lord of Velamazán, Riotuerto, Los Olmillos, of the Strong House of Arias and La Serna, Gentleman of the Chamber of His Majesty, Perpetual Councilman of Soria and Almazán. He was Captain of Infantry in the militias of Agreda, leading them during the siege of Fuenterrabia in 1638. Lorenzo de Medrano y Treviño, Chief of Engineers, artilleryman, brigade sergeant major of the coast of Granada and Spanish Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers, notable for his extensive military service during the Peninsular War. José de Elío y Ayanz de Navarra de Esparza Artieda y Velaz de Medrano, I Marquess of Vessolla, served as the equerry and royal steward to Queen Mariana de Austria, maestre de campo in the Tercios de Navarra, captain of infantry in the valley of Urraúl, nobleman of Navarra, mayor of Pamplona, and a representative of the military estate in the Kingdom of Navarre in 1685. José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, 1st Marquess of Fontellas, 7th Viscount of Azpa, Lieutenant of the Royal Spanish Guards, lord of Autol, Knight of the Order of Malta and representative to the General Courts for the military arm.

Governance and administration Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, head of the ancient House of Medrano in Navarre and the Vélaz de Medrano mayorazgo, hereditary baron and lord of Igúzquiza, Aguinano, Orendain, Zabala, Arróniz, the 4th lord of Learza, merino of the merindad of Estella, the governor of the castles of Del Castillo, Santacara, Monjardin, and major knight of King John III of Navarre and Henry II of Navarre. Tomás Fernández de Medrano, divisero, mayor, high magistrate and Lord of Valdeosera in La Rioja, 16th century author of the Mixed Republic (1602), the Secretary of State and War of the Dukes of Savoy, knight in the Order of Saint John, secretary of the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castile, Manager of the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan and The Most Reverend patron and master of the convent of Saint John of Acre in the town of Salinas de Añana. Juan Bravo de Medrano, I Count of Santa Rosa, Maestre de campo, Lieutenant Capitán General of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia, and the first noble to obtain a title in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1691. He owned large mining and agriculture lands and haciendas in and around Zacatecas. He is the great-great-grandson of Baltasar Temiño de Bañuelos, one of the founders of the mines and city of Zacatecas, and Cristóbal de Oñate, founder of the city of Guadalajara in 1531. Francisco de Medrano y Bazán, knight of the Order of Calatrava, rector and professor at Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, judge and magistrate of Granada, prosecutor and councilor of the Royal Council of Castile. Alonso Molina de Medrano, judge and advisor of the Kingdom of Castile in the 17th century, inquisitor of Córdoba and Zaragoza, professor at the University of Seville, Councilor of the Indies, the first counselor and chamberlain in the Chamber of the Indies. Juan Antonio Molina de Medrano, prosecutor of the Royal Court of Seville in the 17th century, counselor of the Royal Council of Navarre in Plaza de Castilian, magistrate of the Audiencia of Galicia and magistrate of Crime of the Chancery of Granada in the Empire of Spain. Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Altamirano, I Marquess of Tabuérniga, governor of the strategic city of Nieuwpoort in Flanders and Sergeant General of Battle, knight of the Order of Santiago, granted the Marquessate of Tabuérniga. García de Medrano y Castejón, Lord of San Gregorio, a Knight of the Order of Santiago, lawyer, criminal judge in the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of Granada, prosecutor and minister of the Council of Orders, a member of the Royal Council of Castile and the Royal Council of Justice, and procurator in the Cortes for the city of Soria. He reformed the statutes and laws of the Order of Santiago in the early 17th century under Philip III of Spain.