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VELASQUEZ Family History

This famous surname recorded in both Spain and Portugal, is of ancient pre 10th century Basque origins. Recorded in a number of forms including de Belasco, Belasco, de Velasco, Velasco, and Velasquez, as well as the Portugese Vasquez and Vaz, the derivation is from the ancient word "vela or bela" meaning the crow. The presence in many early recordings of the preposition "de" meaning of or from, suggests a locational origin, and gives a meaning of the place of the crows. However in other cases the name was clearly originally a nickname that described somebody who was thought to have the characteristics of the fierce bird.