While there is no certainty about the early life of Vela Núñez, from a chronological point of view he could have been the same person as Vela Conde [in Álava]: Lucas de Tuy (dated to [1236]) records that "in Castella et in Alaua adolescens...comes generosus...Vela" rebelled against Fernando González Conde de Castilla (dated therefore to some time after 932 at the earliest) and sought refuge "ad Sarracenos" after he was expelled from the county. This “comes...Vela” has not been identified in earlier primary sources in Álava, but his name suggests a family connection with Vela Jiménez Conde de Álava.... Salazar Acha, in his study of the Vela family in León, doubts the historical accuracy of this passage and suggests that Vela was a literary creation, although maybe representing an amalgam of different historical personages, probably inspired by the epic Romanz del Infant García which recounts the assassination of García Sánchez Conde de Castilla in 1029 by the sons of “Conde Vela”. However, the coincidence of name and chronology suggests that there may be some truth in the Tuy account. “Gundissalbo Telliz...cum uxor mea Flamula” donated “serna...in Peternales” to San Pedro de Cardeñas by charter dated 24 Sep 902, subscribed by “...Gutterre, Assuri, Beila Nuniz…”. This charter is dated early for it to refer to the same Vela Núñez who is named in the following sources, although there is always the possibility that the document is misdated. No other reference to an earlier Vela Núñez has been found. "Ovecus episcopus" confirmed a donation to Sahagún by charter dated 28 Aug 945, witnessed by "Vigila Nunniz, Suarius Nunniz, Munio Nunniz, Virmudus Nunniz…". As noted above, the order of the names (uninterrupted by other subscribers) and the common patronymic suggest that these four may have been brothers.
[Another] theory, which has found wide support, is that Vela Núñez and his siblings were the children of Nuño Ordóñez, son of Ordoño I King of Asturias. This is seen by some as a more convincing explanation for the family's influence at the court of León during the second half of the 10th century, and of the royal and nobles marriages made by the daughters of the family.
There is no proof either way. To the extent that onomastics can play a part in the debate, the absence of the typically Leonese names Alfonso, Ordoño and Ramiro in the Vela family may be significant, as well as the fact that the name Vela is evidently not one which came from the royal family of León. However, the foundation by the family of the monastery of San Miguel de Barcena indicates a strong connection with Asturias.
Conde. A charter at Corias records that “comes Vela et uxor eius comitissa Todildi” reconstructed “monasterium Sancti Micaelis de Varzena”, specifying that they had “iiiior filios Vermutus Velaz, Sancio Velaz, Ouevo Velaz, Xemena Vela”. “Ouecco” [bishop] donated property to León Cathedral by charter dated 25 May [950], subscribed by “Ouecco sedis Ouetense episcopus, Vigila Nunniz, Suarius Nunniz, Munius Nunniz, Virimundus Nunniz, Nunnus Nunniz, Aurelius Baroncelli...”. 1
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