ETXEGARAI (Etchegarai) the form you wrote your surname is tipical from the French basque Country, in the south the normal spell is Echegarai, and with the modern ortographic rules of the basque language, the proper spell is Etxegarai.

The meaning is ETXE: House, GARAI: High part, so, the meaning is "the house in the high part".

This surname is very common in the Whole Basque country, but the houses with this name are in Gipuzkoa, Nabarra and in Benabarra. In Benabarra there are two houses in Eleta (Arberoa) and Baigorri. In St Jean de Luz (Donibane Lohitzun) is documented since 1773, Hazparren 1713,Itsasu 1645, but is difficult to find a village in the North basque Country without Etchegaray families living on it.

The Cardinal Roger Etchegaray is famous and a very important one, but he haven't done many for our culture, What a pitty.

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