Parra (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: ''גפן'') is a Spanish, Portuguese, and also Jewish

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

, meaning

grapevine ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

or trellis, for example, a

pergola A pergola is most commonly used as an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support crossbeams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are t ...

. It is taken from the word meaning

latticework __NOTOC__ Latticework is an openwork framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a grid or weave. Latticework may be functional &nd ...

and the vines raised on it. In

context the surname is used for

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

people whose ancestors were

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...

makers as "Parra" (גפן "Geffen") is the Hebrew word in Spanish for

vitis ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

Etymology and history

Among

Sephardi Jews Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...

, the surname is a

toponymic Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for a proper nam ...

from the town of La Parra, Badajoz in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, where there was a large

Jewish community Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

before their expulsion from the Crowns of Castile and

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...

by the

Alhambra Decree The Alhambra Decree (also known as the Edict of Expulsion; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Decreto de la Alhambra'', ''Edicto de Granada'') was an edict issued on 31 March 1492 by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdi ...

in 1492. Many descendants with the surname, some of them ''

converso A ''converso'' (; ; feminine form ''conversa''), "convert" (), was a Jew who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries, or one of their descendants. To safeguard the Old Christian popula ...

'', went into exile in

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

and the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, especially in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

. In Spain, numerous conversions took place, which is why the surname appears on the lists of the Catholic Church and the

Inquisition The Inquisition was a Catholic Inquisitorial system#History, judicial procedure where the Ecclesiastical court, ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction. Popularly it became the name for various med ...

. It is believed that the origin of the surname lies in the symbolism of the vine and the grapevine, which for the Jewish people means the

People of Israel Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

that grows and multiplies. Thus the fields of vines were called "fields of roses" because

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

was the "mystical rose". At the beginning of the 19th century in the city of

Buda Buda (, ) is the part of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, that lies on the western bank of the Danube. Historically, “Buda” referred only to the royal walled city on Castle Hill (), which was constructed by Béla IV between 1247 and ...

, in

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

, more than half a thousand Sephardic Jews were listed with the surname Parra.

People with the surname

* Ana Milagros Parra, Venezuelan political scientist * Ángel Parra (judoka) (born 1983), Spanish judoka *

Beatriz Parra Durango Beatriz Parra Durango (born 1940) is an Ecuadorian classical soprano. Early life and education Parra Durango was born in Guayaquil the only child of Antonio Parra (1900-1994) and journalist Dora Durango Lopez (1916-1999). Parra's first studies to ...

(born 1940), Ecuadorian classical soprano * Carlos Parra (disambiguation) *

Carolina Parra Carolina Moraes Parra (born 16 November 1978, São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, ...

(born 1978), Brazilian musician *

Derek Parra Derek Parra (born March 15, 1970) is an American inline skater and speed skater from San Bernardino, California, who graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1988. Parra won two medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, held in ...

(born 1970), U.S. Olympic gold medalist speed skater * Dori Parra de Orellana (1923-2007), Venezuelan politician *

Fabio Parra Fabio Enrique Parra Pinto (born November 22, 1959, in Sogamoso, Boyacá) is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist. Parra was successful as an amateur in Colombia, winning the ''Novatos'' classification for new riders or riders riding their ...

(born 1959), Colombian road cyclist * Facundo Parra (born 1985), Argentine footballer * Francisco Parra Capó (1871 – c. 1945), mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1921 to 1923 * Francisco Parra Duperón (1827–1899), Puerto Rican lawyer and banker * Gabriel Parra (1947–1988), Chilean drummer of the folk group Los Jaivas, not related to the Parra family (see below) *

Gerardo Parra Gerardo Enrique Parra (born May 6, 1987) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder and current first base coach for the Washington Nationals. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, ...

(born 1987), Venezuelan professional baseball player *

Ibán Parra Ibán Parra López (born 18 October 1977 in Lleida, Catalonia) is a Spanish footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football ...

(born 1977), Spanish footballer * Joaquín Parra (born 1961), Spanish footballer * John Parra (born 1974), Colombian road cyclist * José Parra (baseball) (born 1972), Dominican baseball player * José Parra Martínez (1925–2016), Spanish footballer *

Juanita Parra Juana (Juanita) Parra (born 19 November 1970) is a Chilean musician, known as the drummer and percussionist of the Chilean progressive rock–folk band Los Jaivas. Joining the band three years after her fathers death, she is the only woman to pla ...

(born 1970), Chilean drummer of the folk group Los Jaivas, daughter of Gabriel Parra * Lorenzo Parra (born 1978), Venezuelan flyweight boxer * Manny Parra (born 1982), Mexican-American baseball player * Marco Parra (born 1985), Mexican footballer * Marco Parra Sánchez (born 1969), Peruvian politician * Morgan Parra (born 1988), French rugby union player of Portuguese origin * Sofanor Parra (1850–1925), Chilean military *

Parra family {{no footnotes, date=January 2010 The Parra family is a Chilean family known for its many artists. Members of the Parra family are noted contributors to Chilean culture with almost every member being a distinguished national artist. The family is n ...

, Chilean family known for its many artists **

Violeta Parra Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval (; 4 October 1917 – 5 February 1967) was a Chilean composer, singer-songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She pioneered the Nueva Canción Chilena (The Chilean New Song), a renewal and a ...

(1917–1967), Chilean folk singer **

Nicanor Parra Nicanor Segundo Parra Sandoval (5 September 1914 – 23 January 2018) was a Chilean physicist and poet. He has been considered one of the most influential Spanish-language Chilean poets of the 20th century. Parra described himself as an " an ...

(1914–2018), Chilean mathematician and poet, brother of Violeta **

Roberto Parra Sandoval Luis Roberto Parra Sandoval (June 29, 1921 – April 21, 1995), also known as El Tío Roberto (''Uncle Roberto''), was a Chilean singer-songwriter and guitarist, member of the Parra family, many of whose members are famous artists. Biography ...

(1921–1995), Chilean folk singer, brother of Violeta ** Ángel Parra (1943–2017), Chilean folk singer, son of Violeta **

Isabel Parra Violeta Isabel Cereceda Parra (born 29 September 1939), better known as Isabel Parra, is a famous Chilean singer-songwriter and interpreter of Latin American musical folklore. Early years Parra was born in Chile in 1939 and began her career in ...

(born 1939), Chilean folk singer, daughter of Violeta ** Catalina Parra (born 1940), Chilean artist, daughter of Nicanor **

Colombina Parra Colombina Violeta Parra Tuca (born 1970) is a Chilean musician and singer. She was part of the Chilean grunge/alternative rock scene in the 1990s. Her band, Ex, were well known in Latin America when their first album came out with singles like ...

(born 1970), Chilean rock musician and singer, daughter of Nicanor ** Javiera Parra (born 1968), Chilean rock musician and singer, granddaughter of Violeta

De la Parra

Adolfo de la Parra Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra (born 8 February 1946) is a Mexican musician, best known as the drummer for the American blues rock band Canned Heat. Early life and career Parra was born in Mexico City and played in bands such as Los Sinners and Los ...

(born 1946), Mexican drummer, a member of Canned Heat * Alondra de la Parra (born 1980), Mexican conductor, sister of Mane de la Parra * Emoé de la Parra (born 1955), Mexican actress and academic, aunt of Alondra and Mane de la Parra * Mane de la Parra (born 1982), Mexican singer and actor, brother of Alondra de la Parra * Marco Antonio de la Parra (born 1952), Chilean psychiatrist, writer, and dramatist * Pim de la Parra (1940–2024), Surinamese-Dutch film director *

Teresa de la Parra Teresa de la Parra (October 5, 1889 – April 23, 1936) was a Venezuelan novelist. Life She was born Ana Teresa Parra Sanojo in Paris, the daughter of Rafael Parra Hernáiz, Venezuelan Ambassador in Berlin, and Isabel Sanojo de Parra. As ...

(1889–1936), Venezuelan novelist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parra (Surname) Portuguese-language surnames Spanish-language surnames Surnames of Jewish origin Sephardi Jewish culture in Europe Surnames of Sephardic origin

Etymology and history

People with the surname

De la Parra

See also

References