José Antonio Yorba

[1][2] Born in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia (San Saturnino) in Catalonia, Spain, Yorba was one of Fages' original Catalan volunteers.

In 1810, José Antonio Yorba was awarded by the Spanish Empire the 63,414-acre (256.63 km2) Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana land grant.

Covering some 15 Spanish leagues, Yorba's land comprised a significant portion of today's Orange County including where the cities of Olive, Orange, Villa Park, Santa Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach stand today.

Upon his death in 1825 he was buried at his request in an unmarked grave in the cemetery at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Many of today's recognizable American names in the Southern California area, including the Kraemers and Irvines, also married into these Spanish families.