As I have shared in other media, a Toribio Hernández de Arellano from Salamanca is documented, whose brother Sebastián initiated litigation concerning his nobility on May 15, 1557. Following Sebastián's death in 1568, his widow and children continued the legal proceedings. Significantly, the presence of the Sánchez surname within their lineage may account for its recurrence among Toribio's immediate descendants.
Sebastián Hernández de Arellano "El Viejo" was a resident of the parish (colación) of San Isidro in Salamanca. He held estates (hacendado) in the municipalities of Villares de la Reina, Castellanos de Moriscos, and Villamayor. He initiated a lawsuit to assert his noble status (hijodalgo) after being appointed to the position of procurador, an office typically associated with commoners (pecheros), which he argued was incompatible with his noble standing.
The relevant legal file (Sala de Hijosdalgo. Caja 0774.0035. Real Chancillería de Valladolid) records testimony stating that Sebastián was married to Isabel Rodríguez and was the father of Antonio, Jerónimo, Sebastián "El Mozo", and Luisa (PARES | Archivos Españoles, to request the file, follow the link and email the Real Chancillería de Valladolid).
His parents were identified as Sebastián Hernández (arrendador), and Águeda Sánchez, both of whom were described as being of noble origin.
His paternal grandfather was Luis Hernández, a resident of Santiuste street in Salamanca who also maintained a residence in Villamayor. In both jurisdictions, he was exempt from taxation due to his "notorious nobility" (notoria hidalguía) and held the offices of sexmero and alcalde de la Santa Hermandad. Luis Hernández was married to Isabel Sierra.
His great-grandfather was Marcos Hernández, a doublet-maker (jubetero) married to Francisca Sánchez, both residents of Salamanca. Contemporary witnesses noted that they comported themselves in the "manner of nobles and dressing as such" (hábito y maneras de hidalgos). Marcos Hernández was of Vizcaíno origin and was sometimes referred to as Marcos Vizcaíno.
Sebastián Hernández de Arellano "El Viejo" had several siblings: Catalina Sánchez de Arellano (also known as Catalina Rodríguez de Arellano), who was married to Juan Rodríguez, syndic (síndico) of the monastery of San Francisco; María Sánchez de Arellano, married to Andrés González; Francisco Hernández de Arellano and Toribio Hernández de Arellano. This Toribio coincides in chronology, geographical association, and patronymics with the individual of the same name, though a definitive identification cannot be asserted without further evidence, such as his last will and testament from Nueva Galicia. It is documented that a Toribio Hernández de Arellano departed for the Indies in 1549 (PARES, having obtained a license issued in Valladolid by officials of the Casa de la Contratación in Seville) and that he is named in a partition of inheritance (hijuela) in Salamanca alongside his siblings. These individuals constitute the known members of the Hernández de Arellano family from Salamanca.
Notably, the document in question omits any reference to the origin of the Arellano toponym. However, I have a hypothesis that I am currently working on.
Best regards,
Erik Andrés Reynoso y Márquez.