Vecino facts for kids

Vecino is a Spanish word. Today, it usually means "neighbour" or "resident." But a long time ago, in the Spanish Empire, it meant something more special. A vecino was a person who owned a home in a town or city. They also had an important social standing, similar to a "freeman" or "freeholder" in other parts of the world.

What Vecino Meant in History

In the Spanish Empire, a vecino was not just anyone living in a town. This person owned a house and contributed to the town's costs. They might not even live there all the time. Sometimes, a vecino was an important local person, but not a noble. For example, they could be an encomendero, someone who held land nearby and had a house in the city. The term vecino showed that a person had a certain social status. It was like being a "freeman" or "freeholder."

Citizenship in Seville

In the 1600s, in the city of Seville, a vecino was someone who had been given special citizenship. This was called naturaleza de vecindad. These citizens had clear rights and financial duties to the city. Someone who just lived there permanently was called a residente. A residente did not have the same rights or duties as a vecino.

Important People in the American Colonies

In the Spanish colonies in America, a vecino often meant a person with high status. It was more than just being free. In places like the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a vecino had to be married and live in the area. They also had to own property and have a good reputation in public.

Only vecinos were called to special town meetings. These meetings were called an open cabildo. Even though many laws talked about vecinos, the exact meaning of the term was generally understood. It was not always written down in detail.

Privileges for Vecino Families

Being a vecino was so important that their children also got special treatment. The sons and daughters of vecinos were called hijo de vecino. This meant "son or daughter of a vecino." They received some special privileges too.

According to the laws of the time, called the Leyes de Indias, the children and grandchildren of vecinos were honored. They were seen as "well-born" people from a known place. This meant they were considered noble. They were given all the honors and rights that noble people and gentlemen in Spain received.

See also

• Medieval household
• In Spanish: Vecindario (recuento) para niños