MALDONADO NAME ORIGIN 

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The surname Maldonado originates from the ancient and noble Galician lineage  of Aldana. The members of this house are said to descend from Teodórico, King  of the Ostrogoths of Italy.

Teodórico began to govern Spain around 507 AD during the early years of his  grandson the future Visigoth King,  Amalarico, son of Alarico II and his wife  Teodegonda who was the natural daughter of the cited Teodórico.

Teodórico left two sons in Spain. One, was Severiano, Duke of Cartagena who  was married to Teodora. The second, named Suero, made Galicia his home and  founded the "la casa solar" or ancestral home of the Aldana, a short journey  from Santiago de Compostela.

History/ Legend:

Among the descendants of the Aldana, some historians believe that Hernán Pérez  de Aldana was the founder of the surname Maldonado. Others believe it was Nuño  Pérez de Aldana.

It is believed that he lived during the reign of Don Fernando II of León. It  was precisely because of an event that occurred during his reign that Hernán  Pérez de Aldana chose to change his surname to Maldonado.

In essence, the story on the right side of the page relates the tale.  Apparently, Don Hernán Pérez de Aldana became gravely ill and he made a vow  that if he regained his health, he would make a pilgrimmage in honor of Our  Lady Of Monserrate. His health improving slightly, he began his journey from  Galicia to the mountains of Cataluña. The long and arduous journey however,  had taken its toll and he again became ill and postponed his promise of the  novena. The 8th of September arrived signalling the beginning of the  celebration in honor of the Virgin Mary's birth and the church was filled with  celebrants from all over. Hernan Pérez de Aldana requested that his sick bed  be placed in the church so that he could complete his novena away from the  others.

One of those who had come to pay homage was William, Duke of Normandy, nephew  of Felipe (Phillip), king of France who not finding any other location free of  the throng of pilgrims, chose the place where the bed had been placed. He took  the liberty of standing on Hernán's bed to better visualize the liturgical  celebrations. Aggravated not only by the pain this caused him but by the  discourtesy to his person, Hernán Pérez de Aldana courteously asked the  gentleman to find another place because his feet standing on the bed caused  him discomfort.

In turn, the Duke replied that he would not be so inconvenienced by his feet  if he knew who was standing on his bed. Don Hernán in his turn replied that if  he also knew who HE was, he would be more courteous. The Duke, then himself  aggravated at this point, stated to Hernán Pérez de Aldana that he should not  give him further cause or he would place his feet in a manner which would  really inconvenience him.

Aggravated by this final insult and not conceding, Hernán Pérez de Aldana  swore that if by the grace of the Virgin he were to overcome his illness, he  would seek out and demand satisfaction for the insult to his person.

Eventually, Hernán Pérez did recover and true to his word took his plight to  King Alfonso who sent an ambassador to the court of France protesting this  treatment of his gentleman affirming that Don Hernán Pérez de Aldana was of  his finest nobleman and akin to that of any Frenchmen of his class and had  every right to protest any indignity to his person and he, as king, would not  permit it.

Finally, invited to the court of France to presnt his case, Hernán Pérez de  Aldana was received at the  whereby both men learned of the other's identity  and station. William apologized for his actions.

Hernán Pérez de Aldana discovering that it had been the Duke of Normandy on  his bed asked that for his ignorance he should prostrate himself so that he,  William should place his feet wherever he should like. William deferred and  Hernán Pérez de Aldana then offered to give the Duke the right to bear arms  and defend his honor in a joust on a day of his choosing since he was on  foreign soil. The Duke  declined but Hernán Pérez de Aldana appealed to the  King that he be given the right to defend his honor and the event was set.

As a result of this battle between the two gentleman, the Duke was injured by  a blow to the head and before Hernán could do away with him, the King  intervened stating that if the Duke died, Hernán's honor would be avenged but  that if he survived, the King himself would be obligated to satisy his  grievance.

Once healed of his injuries, Hernán came forward to claim from the Duke that  he be compensated for the sparing of his life and the grievance to his honor.  In full view of the court, Hernán Pérez de Aldana then requested that since  the Duke carried three fleur de lis on his court of arms that he, Hernán Pérez  de Aldana be given the right to bear FIVE fleur de lis.

Displeased with the request, the King asked that Hernán Pérez de Aldana  request anything else from the Duke that would more aptly satisy him such as  riches or other honors. Hernán Pérez de Aldana declined stating that he had  come to France not for riches but to defend his honor and that if he, the  Duke, did not fulfill his promise to give him what he requested for giving him  his life then the King himself would be obligated to satisfy the Duke's debt  as he had promised.

Further displeased, the King acquiesced and gave him the right to bear the  five fleur de lis. In giving  him this right, the King made it clear that the  five fleur de lis were "maldonadas" or against his wishes, that is to say they  were not voluntarily  given to him as recompense for the insult to his honor.

Since that time, Hernán Pérez de Aldana took the surname Maldonado as his own  and his coat of arms became the five fleur de lis. His direct descendants  continued to bear the surname Maldonado. His collateral relatives retained the  surname Aldana and continued to carry the ancient coat of arms of two purple  wolves on a golden field.