--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "John Gonzalez" <1gnzlz@v...> wrote:
>   > I remember seen a definition of cerro as backbone, or espinazo. 
>   Cerros means a small mountain.  It goes: Loma, cerro, montaña y
>   sierra, degrees according to size. > 

John, 

Using the Mormon data and the Archivos en Red, I have tracked back at least on person 
with del Cerro surname to Lanestosa, Spain which is in the Basque Country. If you use 
Google Earth and type in Lanestosa, Spain you will get a good idea how the last name 
might have arisen since the area is very mountainous, as is Northern Spain in general.

In my investigation of the Cerro/Cerros surname it appears that there may be at least two 
Cerro/Cerros groups, one in Zacatecas and one in Jalisco. The Zacatecas group is centered 
around Pánuco and goes back centuries. Many of the Cerro males clearly marry women 
with Basque surnames as one reviews the IGI data. Don Juan de Oñate, a Basque, was from 
Pánuco. He "discovered" El Paso on his expedition to New Mexico; I suspect you knew that.

My Y-DNA matches Basque haplotypes, for what it is worth. I believe my Cerros family is 
from Jalisco area. I read somewhere that the Basques would sometimes use surnames that 
would reflect the natural world around them, similar to the Native American Indians. 


Ed 

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "John Gonzalez" <1gnzlz@v...> wrote:
> 
> I remember seen a definition of cerro as backbone, or espinazo. 
Cerros means a small mountain.  It goes: Loma, cerro, montaña y
sierra, degrees according to size.  Sierra means "saw" as the tool the
carpenters use.  The name  "sierra" was given to the mountain chain
because they resemble the teeth of a  saw. There is only one Sierra
Nevada, it was named for its snow covered peaks.  I just cringe when I
hear statements in the media such as:  "Great week-end to visit the
sierras"  TV people  (professionals?)  Should know that there is only
one "Sierra" .

Right, John.  Unless they're referring to México's sierras.  ;-)

http://www.galeon.com/cumbres/Archivos/orografia.htm