Mantuano

[3] The name blanco criollo only indicates that a person was born in America and was a descendant of Spaniards, while the word mantuano refers to members of the local elite.

The first written appearance of the word mantuano occurred on January 5, 1752, in documents related to the insurrection of Juan Francisco de León, according to philologist Ángel Rosenblat.

[3][4] Mantuano derives from the word manto (mantle), and was a reference to the exclusive use of this garment, to cover the head in religious services, by the ladies of the Caracas aristocrats.

[5] The emergence of the Mantuanos as a group dates back to the 16th century, as a consequence of the decrees, laws and ordinances that granted rights and privileges to the descendants of the first Spanish conquistadores and settlers in Venezuela.

[2] Some of the prerogatives of the Mantuanos were: pews assigned to them in the churches, to be carried in gestatorial chairs, use of the title of Don or Doña, to have their escutcheon placed in the front of their houses, use of canes, cloaks, chains, hats and sunshades.