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Such a peculiar surname usually requires it is spelled, especially when registering official documents, otherwise administrative mistakes could be made. But, what did it happen centuries ago when our ancestors, as most of the population, were illiterate and did not know how to write their surname? According to members of the Catalan Society of Genealogy (‘Interesting links’ section), it usually happened in Catalonia that a surname was written in different ways within a same family line because those family members did not know how to write it.

Different ways of writing Orobitg

The way the surnames were written basically depended on how the notary public understood their pronunciation. Below you will find a synopsis of the evolution of the different ways of writing the surname as it has been recorded in different ancient documents:

 

XIII century – ORVIG:
The only document of the XIII available until now (Mr Arnaldi Orvig, Cervera, 1249), registers the surname without the second ‘O’.

XIV century – ORVIG, ORBIG, OROVIG:
For the first time, one can find the surname written as ‘Orbig’ instead of ‘Orvig’, being the pronunciation the same in both cases. The need to differentiate families with the same surname could be as well a reason to write the surname in different way, as this particularity is often observed through centuries. Finally, from 1366 onwards it will be written including the second ‘O’.

XV century - OROVIG:
The most common version is OROVIG, though other versions that only appear in this century are ‘Orevix’ and ‘Arovix’. Moreover, in a same village appears someone called ‘Orovig’ and another person called ‘Oromir’. It is not clear if ‘Oromir’ is a new way of writing the surname.

XVI century – OROVIG:
The ‘Orovig’ version is still the most frequently used. Other versions are Arovig, Oromig and Oranig! At the end of this century one started using –ITG at the end (Orovitg).

XVII – OROVIG, OROVITG, OREVITG:
Both versions are used, though from mid century onwards the common version is OROVITG. Other founded versions are Orevitg and Horevitg. Please note that in the latter version ‘H’ is not pronounced.

XVIII century – OROVITG:
During this century some documents are signed directly by the Orobitg members. Therefore, it is plausible that the literate process finally arrived to the countryside. Still, the ‘Orovitg’ version is the most commonly used.

XIX century – OROVITG, OROBITG:
For the first time it appears the ‘Orobitg’ version, which was used more often than the ‘Orovitg’ one. The use of the ‘b’ could come from the influence of the Castilian. Please note that the pronunciation is the same in both cases.

XX century – OROBITG:
The used version is ‘Orobitg’.

   
Two examples from the XVIII century

In 1772 Mr Jaume Orovitg signed this document using a clear understandable calligraphy, in contrast with the writing of the notary itself (bottom part of the document). Mr Jaume Orovitg lived in Cervera and belonged to a branch that was member of the builders association, thus having received a good education. Curiously, Mr Jaume Orovitg wrote his surname using ‘v’, whereas he wrote the surname of his father, Mr Francesch Orobitg differently (b)!
  

Transcription:

"... per mi Jaume Orovitg y per Francesch Orobitg mon pare y de sa voluntat firmo jo Jaume Orovitg.
En poder de mi Josep Armengol y Perello notari --------- collegiat de Cervera y afirmo coneixer els dits confessants y que dit Jaume Orovitg per ell y per dit son pare per no saber de escriure y de sa voluntat ho firma de sa ma."
    


In 1766 Mr Jolià Orovix reached an agreement to get married to Ms Margarida Magre. Mr Jolià Orovix and his father Mr Francesc Orovig were from Granyenella, lived on agriculture and apparently wrote their surname with some difficulties. Moreover, they wrote it differently! Jolià had been appointed as heir, though he died prematurely.


Transcription:

"Felip Magre, Francesch Orovig, Jolià Orovix. Per las nombradas Madalena Magre y Margarida Orovig y Magre per dir no saber escriure de sa voluntat y presencia firmo jo Francisco ..."




Orobitg as it is nowadays written

According to the Catalan Statistics Institute (IDESCAT, 31st December 2000), there are in Catalonia two derived versions from Orobitg, particularly Orovitg and Arobitg, being in both cases quite a minority comparing to Orobitg. Other ancient particular versions (Orovig, Arovig, Orevitg, Oromig, Orovix, Arovix, Orevix, Arovitg,...) have completely disappeared.

Logo of the Catalan Statistics Institute


Moreover, there is a surname that could come from Orobitg, which is written in two different ways as follows: Oronich and Oranich. Furthermore, since 1497 until at least the XVII century, one can find Orobitg members in Gramuntell (Lleida). Curiously, in the census of Gramuntell in 1553, one can find somebody called Oranig! (could it come from Orobitg as well ...?)

Furthermore, there has always been certain confusion around the surnames ‘Orobitg’ and ‘Oromí’. Until now it has not been possible to confirm that both surnames share a same origin. In any case, different versions of Oromí, Aromí and Arumí are nowadays more common than Orobitg.

According to the Idescat services, there are in Catalonia 317 people that hold ‘Orobitg’ as either first or second surname (*), which represents 0,005% of the total population of Catalonia. Effectively, in contrast with other surnames, ‘Orobitg’ has not spread through the years. Therefore, it is not considered a common surname. Moreover, as its pronunciation is very different comparing to other surnames, if your surname is ‘Orobitg’, you have probably been asked quite a lot of times where do you come from!
Within the ranking of the surnames available in Catalonia, ‘Orobitg’ is in the 4393 position, ‘Orovitg’ in the 32535 position and ‘Arovitg’ in the 35759 position. This list has been drafted considering the number of people holding each existing surname.

(*) Please note that in our country a person holds two surnames. The first one is the surname of the father, whereas the second one is the mother’s surname. Lately, the government changed the law so that the first surname can be switched by the second one.