Los Quince / Surnames
04 / 15 · One of the fifteen Chueta surnames
Forteza

Francisca Forteza died at the auto-da-fé of 1 May 1691 saying «Jesus» at the last turn of the garrote, according to Garau. Rafael Cristóbal Forteza, «Menyus», was tried after his death. Valentí was originally the nickname of a branch of the Forteza family. In the 20th century, Miquel Forteza i Pinya wrote one of the first books on the Chuetas by one of their own.

Stories with the Forteza surname

01Archive · AHN
March 1688

The night it rained

Several families from Palma's silversmiths' quarter decided to leave Majorca by night, on a ship arranged by Rafael Valls. It rained so hard the ship could not sail.

27Archive · AHN
1688–1689

Down to five-year-olds

Quiteria Martí had to declare her family tree before the tribunal. She went all the way down to her cousins' grandchildren: «they are very small, the eldest is five».

40Archive · AHN
17th century

Fasting for the dead

When her mother, Catalina Valls, died, a fast was kept for her according to the Law of Moses. And her daughter Úrsula, unmarried, began keeping that Law from then on.

How to trace your branch

Start with what your family has: baptism, marriage and death records of your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, including their second surnames (Spanish naming uses both parents' surnames).

With those details you can search the parish registers of Palma, above all Santa Eulàlia, the parish of the old Jewish quarter, and the Diocesan Archive of Majorca.

The trial records of the Majorcan Inquisition are held in Spain's National Historical Archive, and many can be viewed online through the PARES portal.

Carrying the surname does not prove descent; the chain of documents does. Tell us your story and we will point you in the right direction.

Do you carry the Forteza surname?
Tell us which branch of your family it comes through and we will send you what we find.