Ranchos de Alta California

Californio landholding families

The Sepúlveda family

Patriarch: Francisco Xavier Sepúlveda (1747 – 1788)

The Sepúlvedas were among the principal ranching families of the Los Angeles plain, holding Rancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica and the long-contested Rancho de los Palos Verdes. Their Palos Verdes claim, carried by three generations against the Domínguez family, is a landmark of California land-title litigation.

Origin

Francisco Xavier Sepúlveda came to Alta California in 1781 with the Zúñiga expedition, bringing his wife and six children; his sons and grandsons became major Los Angeles-basin rancheros.

Members

NameRelationRanchos
Francisco Sepúlvedason of Francisco XavierRancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica
José Dolores Sepúlvedagrandson of Francisco Xavierestablished the family claim (grazing) that became Rancho de los Palos Verdes
José Loreto Sepúlvedagreat-grandson (son of José Dolores)Rancho de los Palos Verdes (confirmed 1834 with brother; regranted 1846)
Juan Capistrano Sepúlvedagreat-grandson (son of José Dolores)Rancho de los Palos Verdes (jointly)

Genealogical confidence: high

Sources

All families · The full register