hidalgo etymology

Etymology

  • Spanish: hidalgo < Medieval Latin: infídālgo, from in- ("not") + fidālgus ("noble")

Meaning

  • A member of the low nobility in Spain, Portugal, and other Spanish-speaking countries.
  • A person of high status or noble character.

Origin

The term "hidalgo" originated in medieval Spain around the 10th or 11th century. It referred to individuals who held land from the king but did not engage in commerce or manual labor. Over time, the term came to denote a lower rank within the nobility, distinguished from the higher ranks of grandees and marquesses.

Hidalgo status was typically inherited from parents, but it could also be granted by the king as a reward for military service or other achievements. Hidalgos were exempt from certain taxes and had the privilege of carrying weapons. They also held a respected social position and were often referred to as "don" or "doña."

The term "hidalgo" was also used in other countries that were part of the Spanish Empire, such as Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines. In these countries, hidalgos were typically landowners or government officials with a similar social status to that of their counterparts in Spain.

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