Show ContentsPaiz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of Spain emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Paiz 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 Paiz family

The surname Paiz 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 Paiz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paiz 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 Paiz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paiz Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Paiz 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 Paiz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paiz Ranking

In the United States, the name Paiz is the 9,099th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Paiz family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: José Peláez, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860; Angel Peláez Cuesta, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1862; and Aureliano Peláez Villalba, who settled in Puerto Rico in 1863..


Contemporary Notables of the name Paiz (post 1700) +

  • Carolina Paiz, American Writers Guild of America nominated writer and producer, known for Grey's Anatomy, Gang Related and The Zero Hour (2010)
  • Catherine Paiz, American actress, known for You Can't Have It (2017), Lilin's Brood (2016) and Monday Nights at Seven (2016)
  • Mariana Isabel Paiz Quan, Guatemalan female badminton player
  • Alicia Odilia Palomo Paíz (1919-1985), Guatemalan teacher and politician, First Lady of Guatemala from 1954 to 1957


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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