First found in Galicia, where the descendants of the Celts and the Swabians were established.

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More about the Arias History...

Please remember that this page is only a small extract of our complete history that includes:

• Ancient origin of the name (usually pre-1100)
• Known spelling variations
• Early movement of the family name during the Middle Ages
• Noteworthy bearers from the 1500-1600s
• First settlers to North America
• Notable contemporary bearers of the name
• A description and/or full color picture of the Coat of Arms, Crest, and Motto (where available)

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: One of the first family members to travel to the New World was Pedro Arias de Avila, who succeeded Balboa as governor of Darien (Panama) and founded Panama City in 1519. Hernando Arias de Saavedra, of Spanish descent, often called "the last conquistador," was the first man born in the New World to govern a Spanish territory: he was Governor and Captain-General of the La Plata region in the late 1500s, and he established Paraguay's virtual independence from Spanish administrators in Buenos Aires and Peru. Other settlers include Rodrigo Arias, who arrived in America in 1513.

For more information on the last name Arias, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.