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LoginMy Asturian family
Moderators: svgev, Maria Garcia Alvarez, Moderators
My Asturian family
Thanks for the welcome. I am the researcher in the family. My husband , Victor is the Asturian-American. Both of his parents emigrated from Asturias to the USA. Peter Hevia Alvarez born 1892 Quiros died 1978 NJ came to NY Aug 1916 via Buenos Aires. Aurelia Garcia Sanchez born 1897 in Vega de Anzo died 1993 in MD came Aug 1920. They met in Jersey City NJ where there was a large Asturian settlement. We have many Garcia family relatives in Asturias with whom we correspond and visit, but have never located any Alvarez members. Someday we will. Jane Alvarez
Hello, Jane,
I had family who spent time in NJ, too. Mine were in Bayonne mostly. There is still a large presence in Newark's Ironbound district, with lots of Portuguese, Spanish, and now Brazilian restaurants.
My grandparents Emilio Fernández Alvarez (from Avilés) and Aurora Menéndez Conde (from a farming village on the hill above Avilés toward Salinas, I think) lived for a couple of years in Bayonne. Emilio painted interiors for a living, often doing decorative paintings (religious scenes, flowers, etc.). My aunt says he was best known for his work in churches.
My Aurora loved living in the big city, where she could walk her kids to the park sit on a bench, and visit with friends. They returned to Anmoore WV after being informed that the family they were renting their Anmoore home to had allegedly set up a bootlegging business in the basement. I'm told my grandmother really missed NJ after that.
At least 5 of their children (my mother and my aunts and uncles) moved back to NJ later. Mary Louise lived in Elizabeth and owned several small businesses. Joe worked for Western Electric and lived in Newark. Connie lived with Mary Louise for a while then married into farmimg family in Philipsburg NJ. My mother, Amor, lived on that farm for a year.
Can you tell us what you know about the Asturian community in Jersey City? Several of us were wondering what the Asturians did for work there and would be interested in learning more about their lives.
I had family who spent time in NJ, too. Mine were in Bayonne mostly. There is still a large presence in Newark's Ironbound district, with lots of Portuguese, Spanish, and now Brazilian restaurants.
My grandparents Emilio Fernández Alvarez (from Avilés) and Aurora Menéndez Conde (from a farming village on the hill above Avilés toward Salinas, I think) lived for a couple of years in Bayonne. Emilio painted interiors for a living, often doing decorative paintings (religious scenes, flowers, etc.). My aunt says he was best known for his work in churches.
My Aurora loved living in the big city, where she could walk her kids to the park sit on a bench, and visit with friends. They returned to Anmoore WV after being informed that the family they were renting their Anmoore home to had allegedly set up a bootlegging business in the basement. I'm told my grandmother really missed NJ after that.
At least 5 of their children (my mother and my aunts and uncles) moved back to NJ later. Mary Louise lived in Elizabeth and owned several small businesses. Joe worked for Western Electric and lived in Newark. Connie lived with Mary Louise for a while then married into farmimg family in Philipsburg NJ. My mother, Amor, lived on that farm for a year.
Can you tell us what you know about the Asturian community in Jersey City? Several of us were wondering what the Asturians did for work there and would be interested in learning more about their lives.
My Asturian Family
Peter Alvarez: automobile mechanic, Jersey City and Secaucas,NJ
Dennis Garcia: baker Jersy City NJ
Olegario (Charlie) Garcia: Crucible steel Newark,NJ
Jose Gomez: security Esso Bayway refinery NJ
Manuel Florez:railroad worker
Garaziano Fernandez:Crucible steel
Jesus Diaz:Esso Bayway refinery
Gaspar Alvarez:owner Oviedo restaurant 14th. St. NYC
? Nunez:tavern owner Newark NJ
Manolo Alvarez: barber
Domingo Lago: travel agent
Dimas Arias:Crucible steel
They would spend weekends and holidays at Villa Nuevae, Plattekill, NY
owned by Severino Garcia
Dennis Garcia: baker Jersy City NJ
Olegario (Charlie) Garcia: Crucible steel Newark,NJ
Jose Gomez: security Esso Bayway refinery NJ
Manuel Florez:railroad worker
Garaziano Fernandez:Crucible steel
Jesus Diaz:Esso Bayway refinery
Gaspar Alvarez:owner Oviedo restaurant 14th. St. NYC
? Nunez:tavern owner Newark NJ
Manolo Alvarez: barber
Domingo Lago: travel agent
Dimas Arias:Crucible steel
They would spend weekends and holidays at Villa Nuevae, Plattekill, NY
owned by Severino Garcia
That's interesting. It looks like a number had jobs in metallurgy industries, which you might expect of good Celts and Asturianus!
My aunt Connie told me that my great Uncle Caesar Fernández worked at the Carrey Federal Shipyards, and Jersey Can / American Can in New Jersey.
She says that when my grandparents lived in Bayonne for two and a half years, my grandfather Emilio Fernández formed a painting company called "Three Stars" with two police officers and himself. My grandmother, Aurora Menéndez, did their office work. She remembered that they did work in an Italian church and in funeral homes.
My great uncle Anselmo Fernández was a sculptor in New York City, but returned to Asturias for the Spanish Civil War, in which he died. I assume that he may also have lived in Bayonne.
My aunt Connie told me that my great Uncle Caesar Fernández worked at the Carrey Federal Shipyards, and Jersey Can / American Can in New Jersey.
She says that when my grandparents lived in Bayonne for two and a half years, my grandfather Emilio Fernández formed a painting company called "Three Stars" with two police officers and himself. My grandmother, Aurora Menéndez, did their office work. She remembered that they did work in an Italian church and in funeral homes.
My great uncle Anselmo Fernández was a sculptor in New York City, but returned to Asturias for the Spanish Civil War, in which he died. I assume that he may also have lived in Bayonne.
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Suronda
- Co-Founder
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 11:15 pm
- Location: Upstate New York
- asturias_and_me:
Asturian Immigrants in New Jersey
Thanks Jane and Art!
...for the informative post on Asturian immigrants in New Jersey. Before your posts, I simply knew that there was a sizeable Asturian community in New Jersey, but I had no idea about their work, or their exact location.
I posted a picture of an unidentified New Jersey family in the Geneaology Forum. Since this family's picture ended up in West Virginia, I assume they had some connection to the state. I figured I'd cross list the photo here in case you hadn't seen it, and since it also ties in with the New Jersey theme you've developed.
Suronda
...for the informative post on Asturian immigrants in New Jersey. Before your posts, I simply knew that there was a sizeable Asturian community in New Jersey, but I had no idea about their work, or their exact location.
I posted a picture of an unidentified New Jersey family in the Geneaology Forum. Since this family's picture ended up in West Virginia, I assume they had some connection to the state. I figured I'd cross list the photo here in case you hadn't seen it, and since it also ties in with the New Jersey theme you've developed.
Suronda
Hi, Jane,
I noticed on reading your posts again that your ancestor was: Peter Hevia Alvarez born 1892 Quiros. You didn't mention whether you had found any Hevia family members. That would have been Peter's (Pedro?) father's side. Alvarez, as you probably know, was most likely his mother's side. I find it interesting that your husband ended up with Alvarez for his last name. That's a little unusual, but maybe something happened in customs to change the way it usually works. [NOTE: as clarified below, Peter changed his name to Peter Hevia Alvarez in the US, but was born Peter Alvarez Hevia.]
I also wondered if you are aware of a very popular Asturian musician named "Hevia." He has had a big hit in Spain with his "Busindre Reel" which he plays on bagpipes. His album, "Tierra de Nadie" is kind of techno new agey, not my favorite, but okay. He often plays an electronic pipe which has a different quality than the usual Asturian gaita. It's worth a listen. "Tierra de Nadie" is often available on Ebay very cheaply.
I noticed on reading your posts again that your ancestor was: Peter Hevia Alvarez born 1892 Quiros. You didn't mention whether you had found any Hevia family members. That would have been Peter's (Pedro?) father's side. Alvarez, as you probably know, was most likely his mother's side. I find it interesting that your husband ended up with Alvarez for his last name. That's a little unusual, but maybe something happened in customs to change the way it usually works. [NOTE: as clarified below, Peter changed his name to Peter Hevia Alvarez in the US, but was born Peter Alvarez Hevia.]
I also wondered if you are aware of a very popular Asturian musician named "Hevia." He has had a big hit in Spain with his "Busindre Reel" which he plays on bagpipes. His album, "Tierra de Nadie" is kind of techno new agey, not my favorite, but okay. He often plays an electronic pipe which has a different quality than the usual Asturian gaita. It's worth a listen. "Tierra de Nadie" is often available on Ebay very cheaply.
Last edited by Art on Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
My Asturian family
My father-in-law Peter Hevia Alvarez was the son of Benigno Alvarez and Isabel Hevia. I have not found any Hevia relatives either. I will try to find the piper music . Thanks Jane
That's an interesting case. Does anyone in the family know how the names came to be reversed from the usual pattern of father's surname then mother's surname?
The full name of the Asturian gailta musician is: José Ángel Hevia Velasco. He was born in Santa Eulalia in 1968.
Have you considered trying the method "Sweeney" used to find cousins? She used the white pages on the Web to find other people with the same last name and then wrote to them to see if they were related. There are a few more details to her method, but you can read about it in this thread. It's the 13th message in that thread (and the last one at the time I'm writing this).
The full name of the Asturian gailta musician is: José Ángel Hevia Velasco. He was born in Santa Eulalia in 1968.
Have you considered trying the method "Sweeney" used to find cousins? She used the white pages on the Web to find other people with the same last name and then wrote to them to see if they were related. There are a few more details to her method, but you can read about it in this thread. It's the 13th message in that thread (and the last one at the time I'm writing this).
My Asturian family
Both families dropped their mother's surname because in America you are known by your father's name. All of the relatives and friends that came over did the same. Jane
It seemed to me that our responses to each other were going in different directions, so I reread the earlier posts to see what might have been going on. Oops. My problem!
It appears that I reversed your original "Peter Hevia Alvarez," turned it into "Peter Alvarez Hevia" and then wondered how the mothers name had been placed first! You probably wondered what I was talking about. Sigh....
One of the things that I find difficult in the forum is keeping track of prior messages when I'm writing another. I think in the future I'll open a second window with the prior messages in them for easier viewing.
It appears that I reversed your original "Peter Hevia Alvarez," turned it into "Peter Alvarez Hevia" and then wondered how the mothers name had been placed first! You probably wondered what I was talking about. Sigh....
One of the things that I find difficult in the forum is keeping track of prior messages when I'm writing another. I think in the future I'll open a second window with the prior messages in them for easier viewing.
My Asturian family
Not your fault. My father-in-law's spanish name was Peter Alvarez Hevia when he came to the US ,he changed it to Peter Hevia Alvarez. My mother-in-law was Aurelia Garcia Sanchez and changed to Aurelia Garcia.
Since I am not spanish, this custom seemed odd. But thinking about it, you always know who the birth mother is. Jane
Since I am not spanish, this custom seemed odd. But thinking about it, you always know who the birth mother is. Jane
That's kind of amazing (that Peter would switch the surname order)! Maybe he got tired of people assuming that Hevia was his last name.
I've never seen an instance in which my grandfather used his mother's surname. As a painter he always signed his father's surname, but he did put in the accent, which I find interesting.
I've never seen an instance in which my grandfather used his mother's surname. As a painter he always signed his father's surname, but he did put in the accent, which I find interesting.
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Suronda
- Co-Founder
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 11:15 pm
- Location: Upstate New York
- asturias_and_me:
Another Version of the "Name Game"
Art and Audubon,
I've been following your discussion about last names. I hadn't thought about it before, but my grandmother, Ida (Vasquez) Gonzalez decided that since she didn't have a middle name she would use V. as her middle initial. I'm not sure when she did this but it was before the days of hyphenating last names when a woman (or couple) married associated with "feminist" traditions. Perhaps for her, it was also a way of continuing the Spanish tradition of keeping her family's name even though she used it as a "middle name."
Suronda
I've been following your discussion about last names. I hadn't thought about it before, but my grandmother, Ida (Vasquez) Gonzalez decided that since she didn't have a middle name she would use V. as her middle initial. I'm not sure when she did this but it was before the days of hyphenating last names when a woman (or couple) married associated with "feminist" traditions. Perhaps for her, it was also a way of continuing the Spanish tradition of keeping her family's name even though she used it as a "middle name."
Suronda
My Asturian family
Victor ,my husband, remembers that his father owned lots in West Virginia. He doesn't know the area,but it must have been in an area connected to Asturias. How else would someone new to the country,living in NJ even know about West Virginia? Jane
Audubon
Hi there Audubon,
Alvarez is one of the most common last names in Asturies, my sencond last name (as you know, here we have two last names) is Alvarez, from my mother. Within Asturies, the largest concentration of "Alvarez" is located between the Caudal and Nalon valleys, so its very likely that you are linked to this area.
Do you have any other info that you can give me?
I will try to forward this website to any local newspaper, with a little bit of luck they will publish an article that can be read by tens of thousands and will be very helpful.
Best regards to all the fellow Asturians in the U.S.
Alvarez is one of the most common last names in Asturies, my sencond last name (as you know, here we have two last names) is Alvarez, from my mother. Within Asturies, the largest concentration of "Alvarez" is located between the Caudal and Nalon valleys, so its very likely that you are linked to this area.
Do you have any other info that you can give me?
I will try to forward this website to any local newspaper, with a little bit of luck they will publish an article that can be read by tens of thousands and will be very helpful.
Best regards to all the fellow Asturians in the U.S.