Are people from southern Spain darker than northern Spain? Myth busting?

Question

This question **only** applies to those people who have gone to or live in Spain.

Now, I've been to Spain and in my experience, I found that Spaniards don't REALLY differ too much by region; however, I actually found a somewhat higher number of lighter skinned and lighter eyed Spaniards coming from places I did not expect. I always thought that northern Spain would have the lightest Spaniards because there was no Muslim rule in those far northern lands. However, I found more light haired, light eyed people in areas where Muslims DID rule; for example, I happened to find a higher number (not by a whole lot though) number of lighter skinned Spaniards in central (Madrid) and eastern Spain (Catalunya).

So out of simple curiosity, how have you encountered the people of Spain? I've never gone to southern Spain and I wonder if you found people in southern Spain looking any different than other parts.

Answer 1

Some of the people in the south of Spain may be a little darker but this is mostly due to the sunny hot climate and to a lesser degree the Moorish influence. Spaniards in the north are more likely to have more Celtic and Germanic influence, But people of any country are not restricted to live in any one area and many may have moved from region to region just like any place else. Also - not every citizen of Spain is ethnically Spanish. People immigrate there from other countries too. For example - there are approximately 1,000,000 people that have immigrated to Spain from Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Many of these people are of Mestizo descent and have darker Native American features.

Answer 2

TBH I generally found lighter people in the north, rich brown hair rather than very dark,a few redheads, more blue/mixed eyes--and a little paler, probably because it wasn't all that warm there. But they weren't all that dark in the south either--I remember meeting a southern lady with black hair but very pale skin and bright blue eyes.She could easily have passed for Irish.

the Moors have been proved to have left very little to the native genepool of Spain; remember they were a ruling aristocracy that had a different religion that kept them seperated from the natives to some degree. Most Spaniards descend from either hunter gatherers who sheltered in the mountains during the last ice age or neolithic farmers who travelled up the coasts of the Med.

Answer 3

I have not noticed much of a difference, but perhaps they get more sun in Southern Spain and are more tanned. It can be rainy on the Bay of Biscayne quite a bit.

Answer 4

Usually yes

Answer 5

I every time spend my half an hour to read this blog's posts daily along with a mug of coffee.

Answer 6

Yes maybe due to MORE SUNSHINE not due to invasions by other countries



Muslim is NOT a race, there are BLACK MUSLIMS to WHITE MUSLIMS

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

Yeah it might be true

Answer 9

Can you elaborate?