Basque Chileans

The Basque presence in Chile began in the Conquista period, for in the armies of the first colonizers came an important number of soldiers from the Basque Provinces and from Navarra. In the 16th century, of the 157 Peninsular families that settled in Chile, 39 had Basque surnames. This number progressively grew, as reflected in the number of governors of Basque origin.

Forms a regional immigration corridor between Spain and Chile, one that is large, visible, and continues over time. Basque immigration can be divided into historical periods: discovery, foundation, and colonial period; the wave of immigration of the 18th century; and the recent immigrants (19th and 20th centuries).

During the 18th century, the country experimented a mass immigration coming from the Basque provinces and Navarre, by the end of the 18th century represents 30% of the Chilean population.[http://www.euskadi.net/r33-2288/es/contenidos/informacion/revista_euskaletxeak/es_714/adjuntos/4546_28_29_c.pdf De los vascos en Chile y sus Instituciones] euskadi.net (in Spanish) This raised the Basques to being the most important regional group in the population, displacing the natives and descendants of those born in New Castile, Old Castile, and Andalucía. These immigrant families initially dedicated themselves to their preferred form of business, and in successive years produced many alliances with families of Castilian origin possessing lands and titles, giving birth to a new social group known in Chilean history as the Castilian-Basque aristocracy; others integrated with the castizo middle class.

In the second half of the 19th century came a new wave of Basque immigration, this time as much from the Spanish regions as the French. This migratory flood are extended until the end of the Spanish Civil War.

A list of well known Chileans of Basque descendence is too great to name but the following shows a short list of some.

• Pedro Aguirre Cerda,{{Cite web|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/julio_09/08672707_01.asp|title=CVC. Página no encontrada.|website=cvc.cervantes.es|accessdate=11 June 2023}} President of Chile (1938–1941)
• Isabel Allende,{{Cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.25.98/allende-9825.html|title=Metroactive Books | Isabel Allende|website=www.metroactive.com|accessdate=11 June 2023}} writer
• Salvador Allende,{{Cite web |url=http://masones.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/el-personaje-masonico-de-junio-salvador-allende-gossens/ |title=Salvador Allende. |access-date=2009-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813121231/http://masones.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/el-personaje-masonico-de-junio-salvador-allende-gossens/ |archive-date=2009-08-13 |url-status=dead }} President of Chile (1970–1973)
• Maricarmen Arrigorriaga,{{Cite web|url=http://actrizchilena.blogspot.com/2008/02/algo-ms-sobre-maricarmen-arrigorriaga.html|title=Biografía Maricarmen Arrigorriaga|accessdate=11 June 2023}} actress
• José Manuel Balmaceda,{{Cite web|url=https://html.rincondelvago.com/historia-de-chile_6.html|title=Encuentra aquí información de Historia de Chile para tu escuela ¡Entra ya! | Rincón del Vago|date=26 June 2003|website=html.rincondelvago.com|accessdate=11 June 2023}} President of Chile (1886–1891)
• Pedro Pascal, actor
• Manuel Baquedano,{{Cite web|url=http://www.genealog.cl/Chile/B/Baquedano/|title = Familia Baquedano | www.genealog.cl}} Commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army during the War of the Pacific
• Juan Guzman Cruchaga (1895–1979) was a Chilean poet and diplomat. He won the Chilean National Prize for Literature in 1962
• Alberto Blest Gana,{{Cite web|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/julio_07/04072007_01.asp|title=CVC. Rinconete. Literatura. Libros clave de la narrativa chilena (X). Martín Rivas.|website=cvc.cervantes.es|accessdate=11 June 2023}} writer and diplomat
• Felipe Camiroaga,[http://www.segunda.cl/modulos/generacion/mobileASP/detailNew.asp?idNoticia=CM816L0HF20090430&strNamePage=LUCSGTL54SG3004.jpg&codCuerpo=701&iNumPag=54&strFecha=2009-04-30&iPage=1&tipoPantalla=240 Felipe Camiroaga.] actor and TV host
• Javiera Carrera,{{Cite web|url=http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={09b31ebd-bb5c-419c-87c7-3069540a13e3}|title=Javiera Carrera|accessdate=11 June 2023}} patriot
• José Miguel Carrera,{{Cite web|url=http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={09b31ebd-bb5c-419c-87c7-3069540a13e3}|title=José Miguel Carrera|accessdate=11 June 2023}} Army general, President of the Government Junta and hero of the War of Chilean Independence
• Federico Errázuriz Zañartu,{{Cite web|url=https://www.escritores.cl/base.php?f1=articulos/texto/Penamunoz.htm|title=Escritores.cl|website=www.escritores.cl|accessdate=11 June 2023}} President of Chile (1871–1876)
• Domingo Eyzaguirre,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanbernardo.cl/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610062955/http://www.sanbernardo.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=18|url-status=dead|title=Ilustre Municipalidad de San Bernardo|archivedate=10 June 2008|website=Municipalidad San Bernardo|accessdate=11 June 2023}} politician
• Lucho Gatica, Bolero singer, actor and television host of Chilean Basque descent
• Alejandro Gorostiaga,{{Cite web|url=http://www.diarioeldia.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1827&Itemid=177|title=Alejandro Gorostiaga.|accessdate=11 June 2023|archive-date=7 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707010545/http://www.diarioeldia.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1827&Itemid=177|url-status=dead}} Army officer
• Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga,{{Cite web|url=http://sid.usal.es/mostrarficha.aspx?id=17668&fichero=1.1|title=Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga.|accessdate=11 June 2023|archive-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629051553/http://sid.usal.es/mostrarficha.aspx?id=17668&fichero=1.1|url-status=dead}} Jesuit priest and saint
• Marta Larraechea,{{Cite web|url=http://democratascristianosantofagasta.blogspot.com/2009/05/el-peso-de-martita-en-la-campana-de.html|title=Democratas Cristianos de Antofagasta - Chile: El peso de “Martita” en la campaña de Frei.|first=Carlos Saavedra|last=Martinez|date=14 May 2009|accessdate=11 June 2023}} former First Lady of Chile (1994–2000)
• Alberto Larraguibel,{{Cite web|url=http://www.euskalkultura.com/noticias/recordando-la-hazana-del-capitan-larraguibel?language_sync=1|title=Recordando la hazaña del capitán Larraguibel|accessdate=11 June 2023}} Army officer and equestrian
• Fernando Larraín,[http://www.chileazul.cl/foro/index.php?topic=27022.0;wap2 Fernando Larraín.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226032034/http://www.chileazul.cl/foro/index.php?topic=27022.0%3Bwap2 |date=2012-02-26 }} actor
• Hernán Larraín,[http://www.chileazul.cl/foro/index.php?topic=27022.0;wap2 Hernán Larraín.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226032034/http://www.chileazul.cl/foro/index.php?topic=27022.0%3Bwap2 |date=2012-02-26 }} politician
• María Eugenia Larraín,{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.cl/p4_lanacion/antialone.html?page=http://www.lanacion.cl/p4_lanacion/site/artic/20040131/pags/20040131185807.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040130/http://www.lanacion.cl/p4_lanacion/antialone.html?page=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lanacion.cl%2Fp4_lanacion%2Fsite%2Fartic%2F20040131%2Fpags%2F20040131185807.html|url-status=dead|title=María Eugenia "Kenita" Larraín.|archive-date=4 June 2011|access-date=11 June 2023}} model
• Roberto Matta Echaurren,{{Cite web |url=http://www2.udec.cl/~mariasmo/pintores/Roberto%20Matta.htm |title=Roberto Matta Echaurren. |access-date=2009-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714022338/http://www2.udec.cl/~mariasmo/pintores/Roberto%20Matta.htm |archive-date=2009-07-14 |url-status=dead }} painter
• Pablo Neruda,Possible Paradises, Basque Emigration to Latin America By José Manuel Azcona Pastor. poet and Nobel laureate
• Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme,{{Cite web|url=http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/historia/v36/art01.pdf|title=Bernardo O'Higgins.|accessdate=11 June 2023}} Army general, Supreme Director and hero of the War of Chilean Independence
• Augusto Pinochet Ugarte,[http://lahoradelpueblo.blogspot.com/2006/12/augusto-pinochet-el-insulso-hijo-del.html Augusto Pinochet Ugarte]. Army General and military dictator (1973–1990)
• Sebastián Piñera Echenique,{{cite web |url=http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/14/chile-necesita-un-verdadero-renacimiento/ |title=Chile necesita un verdadero renacimiento | Sebastián Piñera 2010 |accessdate=2010-02-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220083154/http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/14/chile-necesita-un-verdadero-renacimiento/ |archivedate=2009-12-20 }} Sebastián Piñera Echenique President of Chile (2010–2014, 2018–2022)
• Manuel Rodríguez Erdoíza,{{Cite web |url=http://www.educomputacion.cl/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=369 |title=Manuel Rodríguez Erdoiza. |access-date=2009-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707010131/http://www.educomputacion.cl/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=369 |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead }} guerrilla fighter and hero of the War of Chilean Independence
• Fernando Solabarrieta,[http://www.puntomujer.emol.com/solteras/noticia/detallenoticia.asp?id=%7B780BF766-B372-4C54-815B-03026F7F7C5A%7D%3C Fernando Solabarrieta.] journalist and sports commentator
• Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna,[http://www.chileazul.cl/index.php?=77892.0;wap2 Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna.] politician, historian and writer
• Paz Yrarrázaval,{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealog.cl/Chile/I.html|title=I | Genealogía de Familias Chilenas|website=www.genealog.cl|accessdate=11 June 2023}} actress
• Adolfo Zaldívar,{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariocritico.com/noticia/81843/noticias/nos-visitan-parlamentarios-chilenos.html|title=Nos visitan parlamentarios chilenos|website=Diariocrítico.com|accessdate=11 June 2023}} politician
• Andrés Zaldívar, politician
• Aníbal Zañartu,{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealog.cl/Chile/Z.html|title=Z | Genealogía de Familias Chilenas|website=www.genealog.cl|accessdate=11 June 2023}} politician

• Allende family
• Balmaceda family
• Carrera family{{Cite web|url=http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={09b31ebd-bb5c-419c-87c7-3069540a13e3}|title=Carrera family|accessdate=11 June 2023}}
• Larraín family{{Cite web |url=http://portada.diariosregionales.cl/prontus_blogs/site/artic/20090504/pags/20090504171152.html |title=Larraín family. |access-date=2009-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707010158/http://portada.diariosregionales.cl/prontus_blogs/site/artic/20090504/pags/20090504171152.html |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead }}
• Vergara family

• Italian Chilean
• British Chilean
• German Chilean

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.euskonews.com/0072zbk/gaia7204es.html Imaginarios vascos desde Chile La construcción de imaginarios vascos en Chile durante el siglo XX]

{{Basque diaspora}}

{{Ethnic groups in Chile}}

Chile

Category:European diaspora in Chile