Californio landholding families
The Castro family
Patriarch: Joaquín Isidro de Castro (1732 Sinaloa – 1801 Monterey)
The Castros descend from Anza colonist Joaquín Isidro Castro and spread into nearly every district, Monterey (José Castro, general and acting governor; the Salinas-valley branch), the East Bay (Rancho San Pablo, Víctor Castro), and Santa Clara. Because 'Castro' is so common and the family so ramified, not every register grantee can be tied to the founder with certainty; the surname likely also includes some unrelated Castros.
Origin
Joaquín Isidro Castro brought his family overland on the 1775–76 Anza expedition; they were among the founders of the Pueblo de San José (1777). The family became one of the largest and most widely branched in California.
Members
| Name | Relation | Ranchos |
|---|---|---|
| Francisco María Castro | son of Joaquín Isidro | Rancho San Pablo (East Bay) |
| Víctor Castro | grandson of Joaquín Isidro (son of Francisco María) | Rancho San Pablo (held with family) |
| Mariano Castro | Castro descendant (Santa Clara/Monterey branch; exact link to Joaquín Isidro not individually verified) | Santa Clara / Monterey area grants (register shows four 'Mariano Castro' entries) |
| José Castro | Castro descendant (Monterey branch) | military/political leader (acting governor, general); family Monterey holdings |
| Simeón Castro | Monterey-branch Castro | Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo area (register: three 'Simeon Castro' entries) |
Genealogical confidence: medium
Sources
- https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Castro-949
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/980/files/RSA%20Castro%20Adobe%20HSR%20-%201.0-2.16%20p3-48.pdf
- https://www.sfgenealogy.org/doku.php?id=california_spanish%3Aanza_expedition_1775