The Southern California city of Yorba Linda — which was a small, rural town until the 1960s — was named in honor of wealthy local rancher Bernardo Yorba (b. 1800), the son of early California settler José Antonio Yorba (b. 1743), originally from Spain.
Bernardo had 21 children, one of whom was a son named Vicente (b. 1844). Vicente went on to have a son named Bernardo (b. 1894), who also went on to have a son named Bernardo (b. 1921).
That last Bernardo — the great-grandson of the original — had a high school sweetheart named Margaret.
Bernardo married Margaret in 1943. After that, he left to fight in WWII — but not before Margaret became pregnant with their first child. She gave birth to a baby girl while Bernardo was overseas.
Margaret recalled:
When I was in high school I remembered sitting with my friends at noon one time and talking about getting married and I said, “What if I married Bernardo Yorba and named our first baby Linda. She’d be Linda Yorba from Yorba Linda.” And we all thought that was so hysterical. So of course, I named the baby Linda — it just came out of my mouth.
After welcoming Linda in early 1944, the couple went on to have nine more children: Cantana, Lisa, Bernardo, Nichola, Antonio, Miguel, Christopher, Jaime, and Peter.
P.S. Here are two more WWII-era Linda stories: Linda Ann and Linda.
Sources:
- Humphreys, Carol. “The Yorbas.” Orange Coast Magazine Feb. 2002: 76-79.
- Yorba Linda, California – Wikipedia
Image: Adapted from Don Bernardo Yorba (circa 1840)
[Latest update: Dec. 2024]
I certainly have heard of Yorba Linda–I grew up and still live within spittin’ distance–but I didn’t know the history of the name or the family. Very interesting! (I’m wondering if the name of the family’s second child after Linda was Santana, not Cantana?)
Good question! Thanks Diane.
I just double checked the article — it does say “Cantana”:
I am related to this family, and Cantana is correct :)
Thanks KC!