The family connection dates back to Josep Joan Pere Pascual Xeltruch Guardiola, born in Vila-seca (Tarragona) in 1700, brother of the great-great-grandfather of Florencio Xatruch Villagra. The latter, born in Honduras in 1811, was a war hero who served as de facto president of the Central American country between March 26 and May 23, 1871.
The importance of Florencio Xatruch lies in the fact that his surname gave rise to the demonym "catrachos," used to refer to Hondurans. This happened after the general led the Central American troops to defeat the American filibuster William Walker in 1856.
“"Since school, we were taught that the soldiers of Commander Florencio Xatruch were called the xatruches, then catruches, and eventually it evolved into catrachos."
Chef Eduard Xatruch learned of the kinship thanks to a gift from a supplier and a client who provided him with the family tree. Although he has never visited the country, the Disfrutar chef has expressed interest in traveling to Honduras to discover his roots.
The emigration story began in 1802, when Ramon Xatruch and his brother Pere, along with Esteve Guardiola, left Vila-seca for Honduras. Curiously, a son of Esteve Guardiola, José Santos Guardiola, also became president of Honduras between 1856 and 1862.
