Arnaldo de Baiao, the Earliest Known Acevedo Ancestor

Greetings to all Acevedos / Azevedos:

Is anyone familiar with the Portuguese Knight Arnaldo

de Baiao?

According to my sources, he was a Crusader of 10th century

Portugal, and is often identified in genealogical sources

as the earliest known ancestor of the Azevedo / Acevedo

families.

He was a knight-vassal of King Alfonso V of Leon, and

fought against the Arabs in the region of Galicia

(northwestern Spain).

In 983, Don Arnaldo established the village of Azevedo,

in what is now the municipality of Barcelos, in the district

of Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal.

In 1027, Don Arnaldo fell in combat near Vizeu.

His son and successor, Don Gosendo Arnaldes de Baiao, was

the owner of many haciendas along the Cavado river.

Don Gosendo held the lordship of a place called "Penaguiao".

Don Gosendo's son, Don Egas Gosendes de Baiao, was a

nobleman of the royal court of King Alfonso VI of Castile.

In 1085, Don Egas was a combatant in the capture and

conquest of Toledo, and some time later, in 1124, founded

the village of "Sernancelhe" (spelling is likely incorrect).

The son of Don Egas was Don Godinho Vegas de Baiao, whose

father-in-law rebuilt the the monastery of Villar de Frades.

Don Godinho's son was Don Paio Godins, and his son was Don

Mem Paes Bufhino.

Don Mem Paes son was Pedro Mendes de Azevedo, who was a

combatant in the capture of Seville in 1248.

Doubtless, the above information is in much need of

correction and/or clarification; if anyone can provide

this, please feel free to do so.

One thing more, Almada, like Azevedo, is of Portuguese

origin, hence my interest in the Azevedo surname and its

variants. (*Azevedo is a much older lineage than Almada,

for it was Vasco Lourenco de Almada who was the first

Portuguese to bear the name, circa 1270).

Thanks!

Peter Almada