The noble Sevillian family name "GRAGEDA" originally came from the village of Grajera. Etymologically, the name Grageda, Grajeda,Gragera even Graxera comes from the Castillian word "grajo" derivated from the latin word "gragulus" which concerns a species of crow. The ancient lineage and progenitor of this family during the XIII century in the region Extremadura, Spain was Don Gautier Gragera, a distinguished knight that escorted the king Don Alfonso IX of Leon, in his war expeditions through that region and after honouring his master with favours, settled down in Montijo. In 1538, the Room of the Nobleman of Chauncery of Graneda declared Don Alfonso de Gragera, a nobleman of well known blood, the same as his father, Pedro Graxera and his grandfather of the same name. This Alonso Gragera, the third with the same name, heir of the family grown wealth. This last one accumulated the title of Perpetual Regent of Badajos, Regent and Mayor of Cavalera la Real and Grand Master of the Sacrament. Notable bearer of the surname "GRAGEDA" include Juan Matias Gragera y Gragera, born in Puebla la Calzada, was the first Count of Tower of Fresno and Viscount of San Diego. Blazon of Arms: In field of silver, five black crows, position in sotuer. Translation: Argent (silver) denotes serenity and nobility. Crest: Three ostrich feathers. Origin: Spain. The blason of the Grageda can be seen carved in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception in the Parish of Our Lady of Grace, of the village of Talavera and in the Chapel of San Juan Bautista, in the Parish of San Pedro, in the town of Montijo. Mariano Grageda, an adventurer from a town in Sorsogon migrated to Camalig, Albay sometime after the eruption of Mayon volcano in 1814. He was a wine merchant. Shortly after his arrival in Camalig, he got married to a lady by the name of Juana, one of the daughters of the Moya family. The Moya family of Camalig was the biggest land owner then. Juana Moya de Grageda lived for 115 years and some six months. She was born in 1796 and died in 1912. Her memorial is inside the Camalig church. A bi-centennial celebration was held in her honor in Camalig, Albay. Grageda's from as far as Iloilo and Davao came for the occassions, which turned out to be the biggest family reunion of the Gragedas. Higinio Grageda -(deceased) born on January 11, 1911 in Camalig, Albay. Married to Esther Angelica Neri Grageda, (deceased Jan. 3, 2002) born on February 5, 1910 in the same town. From this blessed union bore six children namely:
The result of this research was compiled solely by Floravez Graciela Grageda. If you have any addition/revision on this page and/or if you are an "GRAGEDA," and would like to provide informations on the GRAGEDA surname, please send e-mail to Graciela G. Grageda. |