Guerra family

Biographical Information

The de la Guerra family of Santa Barabara were among the most prominent of Californio families, holding extensive ranchos under Spanish land grants prior to California statehood. Pablo de la Guerra (1819-1874), was a son of Don José Antonio Julian de la Guerra y Noriega (1779-1858) and was active in politics and government during the early decades of California statehood. The Casa de la Guerra adobe in Santa Barbara survives into the twenty-first century and houses a local history museum.

Several daughters and granddaughters of José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega and his wife, Maria Antonia Carrillo de la Guerra, married early Anglo-American pioneers of California, bringing the surnames of Dibblee, Robinson, Ord, Hartnell and Lee, among others, into the family. Other Californio families closely related by marriages are Carrillo, Oreña and Sepulveda.