Today I was researching my Lizarraga line, and I discovered an interesting entry for my paternal 4th Great Grandfather, Salvador de Lizarraga, married to Maria Rosa de Herrera Anzaldo, on 20 Oct 1748

Today I was researching my Lizarraga line, and I discovered an interesting entry for my paternal 4th Great Grandfather, Salvador de Lizarraga, married to Maria Rosa de Herrera Anzaldo, on 20 Oct 1748 in Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit. The matrimonio record includes the following: “…vecinos de los ranchos de esta jurisdicción
El Morisca”. In addition below my grandfather’s name in the margin of the page is the entry, “El Morisco”, or “Morisco”.

My Velázquez dictionary reads: Morisco: a. Moorish, belonging to the Moors. 1. Name given to the Moors who remained in Spain after its restoration. 2. (Mex.) Quadroon. (The “Quadroon” dictionary definition, of course, is an “hijo de blanco y mulata o de muluto y mujer blanca”.

I had never to date in my family research seen this racial designation. So I am wondering is it more commonplace than I believe? I would be interested in your thoughts.

Thank you.

Paul Gomez
Rancho Cucamonga, CA