Show ContentsBaez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of Spain emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Baez family. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins.

The root name Peláez meant "son of Pelayo" and the popular variants Paez and Baez are thought to be extensions of the original name. Pelayo is the Spanish form of the Latin name Pelagius and the Greek Pelagio, meaning "the sea" or "open-sea".

Pelagius (c. 354-418), born in Roman Britain, was a theologian known for developing Pelagianism which emphasized human choice in salvation and denied the original sin. The Pelagian heresy rejected the doctrine of original sin and predestination, insisting on free will and man's innate capacity to do good.

Pelagius (c. 685-737) was a Hispano-Visigoth nobleman who founded the Kingdom of Asturias in 718. He is credited with initiating the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Pelagius of Córdoba (c. 912-926) (in Spanish San Pelayo Mártir) was a Christian boy who died as a martyr in Córdoba in southern Spain around 926 AD. Pelagius was later enshrined as a Christian martyr and canonized as "Saint Pelagius."

Early Origins of the Baez family

The surname Baez was first found in Asturias, where the Visigothic court took refuge from the Muslim occupation of Spain. Located in the north-west of Spain, it is now an autonomous community.

Later Baeza, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia would be the home of one of the branches of this distinguished family. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baeza (Latin Beatia) established in 715 AD was a Visigothic Catholic bishopric, suppressed under Moorish rule.

Early History of the Baez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baez research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1020, 1046, 1052, 1105, 1108, 1109, 1110, 1126, 1132, 1138, 1142, 1157, 1238, 1403 and 1406 are included under the topic Early Baez History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baez Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Peláez, Pelaez, Peláiz, Pelaiz, Pelayo, Páez, Paez, Báez and many more.

Early Notables of the Baez family

Prominent among members of the family were eleventh century prelate Diego Peláez (fl. 1020-c.1046), chosen by King Sancho II to oversee the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela; Gonzalo Peláez (d. 1138), ruler of the Asturias from 1110 to 1132; twelfth century nobleman Count Pedro Peláez de Valderas; Macía Peláez de Robreda, who received lands in the 1238 Repartimiento de Córdoba; thirteenth...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Baez Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baez Ranking

In the United States, the name Baez is the 1,597th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. [1]


United States Baez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Baez Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Geo Baez, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 [2]
Baez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Sebastian Baez, who arrived in New Spain in 1836 [2]
  • Ximon Baez, who landed in Florida in 1838 [2]
  • Cristobal De Baez, who arrived in Florida in 1863 [2]
  • Antonio Baez, who landed in Peru in 1879 [2]
Baez Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Cecilis Baez, aged 42, who landed in America from Paris, in 1904
  • Cornelis Baez, aged 6, who landed in America from Paris, in 1904
  • Chas. Baez, who immigrated to America, in 1905
  • Gustav Baez, aged 25, who landed in America from Furth, Germany, in 1911
  • Jesus Baez, aged 21, who landed in America from Brehet France, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Baez (post 1700) +

  • John C. Baez (b. 1961), American mathematical physicist, cousin of Joan Baez
  • Joan Baez (b. 1941), born Joan Chandos Báez, American folk singer who has released over 30 albums, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007
  • Albert Baez (1912-2007), Mexican-born, American physicist, recipient of the Dennis Gabor Award (1991), father of Joan Baez
  • Tomas F. Baez, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1996
  • Maria Baez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2004, 2008 (alternate)
  • Alcides Báez (1947-2023), born Alcides Antonio Báez Fleytas, was a Paraguayan footballer who played as a goalkeeper
  • Juan "Johnny" Báez (1935-2022), also known "El Indio de la Vía", a Puerto Rican basketball player who played from 1953 to 1969 in Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League, inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame
  • Claudio Báez (1948-2017), Mexican television actor
  • Danys Baez (b. 1977), Cuban born baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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