Etxeberria is a Basque language placename and surname from the Basque Country in Spain and France, meaning 'the new house'. It shows one meaningful variant, Etxeberri, and a number of later spelling variants produced in Spanish and other languages. Etxebarri is a western Basque dialectal variant, with the same etymology. Etxarri is attested as stemming from Etxaberri. The original surname is often associated with the construction of new farms after the introduction of New World crops like maize and potatoes. In many Basque areas, the surname Etxeberri was formerly associated to the naturalized Roma people, while in the French Basque Country it was sometimes translated to GasconCasenave/Cazenave.
Spellings and dialectal distribution
Etxebarri variants hail from Biscay, most of northern Álava, and western Gipuzkoa, while the Etxeberri, Echeberry are based in the eastern tip of Álava, rest of Gipuzkoa, Navarre, and French Basque Country. The termination –a stands for the article, 'the', sometimes missing. As for the spellings, the v/b alternation doesn't reflect any allophones, but different writing styles and conventions. The Etcheverry or Echeverri type of spelling typically hails from the French Basque Country, while the Echeverría type shows a Spanish spelling. However, adaptations and distortions of original forms taking place during emigration to America added to the confusion. Etxeberri denotes influence of the spelling rules developed by Sabino Arana for the Basque language as of the late 19th century. Some cognate forms resulting from dialectal distribution and adaptation to other languages are:
The Biscayne branch of the Echevarría family is thought to have originated in the town of Dima, it grew to the neighbouring town of Zeanuri, and eventually spread to the nearby city ofVitoria-Gasteiz. However, it is too widespread a place-name to pinpoint just one location. Another branch of Echebarria hails from Durango and Zaldibar. An Echeberria branch originated in Sorabilla and extended its roots to many other towns across Gipuzkoa. Another one is from Amezketa, stretching out its roots to a large number of villages and towns in the province. It further expanded to Santander, and on to Seville and Chile. Another branch originated in different spots of Baztan, Baigorri, and Leitza, expanding later to the south of Navarre: Pamplona, Estella-Lizarra, Tudela, etc. The Echeberri form hails from Ezkio, Oñati, Hondarribia, Oiartzun, Donostia, etc. "Echeberry" is typically from the town of Tolosa, attested in 1346.
It is a widespread place-name across the whole Basque Country and showing similar Romanized variants in Aragon. It refers to baserris, neighbourhoods, villages, and towns:
