ALFONSO
Alfonso: translation
Alfonso m
Spanish: of Germanic (Visigothic) origin, probably composed of the elements adal noble + funs ready, prompt. Alternatively, the first element may be ala all, hadu struggle, or hild battle; forms are found to support each derivation, so it is possible that several names that were originally distinct in Visigothic have fallen together. St Alphonsus was a 9th-century bishop of Astorga, who spent the last years of his life at the abbey of St Stephen de Ribas de Sil in Galicia. The major influence on the spread and popularity of the name, however, was the fact that it was established as a traditional name in various royal families of the Iberian peninsula from a very early date. Alfonso I (c.693–757), King of Asturias, played an important part in establishing Christianity in Spain. By the 14th century, eleven Alfonsos had sat on the throne of Leon and Castile, four on the throne of Aragon, and four Afonsos on the throne of Portugal.
Variant: Alonso.
Cognates: French: Alphonse. Portuguese: Afonso. See also ALPHONSUS (SEE Alphonsus).