Don't know who will receive this, but I just got into this webpage and read all the posted messages. I too am an Alba - second generation Mexican-American born in the US. My dad's family (he's still alive and well at 80)came through Kansas (Horton?) with the railroads. From there, the family of 9 brothers and sisters moved to Omaha and most found work in the packinghouses. Some of his Uncles headed west, as I've been told. Just some interesting things I've found out about the last name Alba:

Ran into the name in Pennsylvannia in the phone book, but turned out to be an abbreviated Greek name.

There is a reference to the Alba clan in Ireland or Scotland - might be a derivative of Albania.

Alba in Latin does mean white (quorcus alba - white oak), and I've seen the reference to dawn in a book by Berlitz (English/Spanish dictionary).

Currently there's a TV show, Dark Angel, on with a Jessica Alba, and she has a webpage.

There is an Anthony Alba who works as a spokesperson for the police department, I think in LA. There's another spokesperson with the same last name in Las Vega. I've seen both their last names in the newspaper.

There is an Asian Lesbian Bi-sexual Association, AlbaB.A. (it comes up in a search)!

On the far left corner of the Vietnam Memorial as you're facing it, where the monument tapers to the finest point is an Alba (maybe John) who was killed in Vietnam. The very first time I ever saw the monument and the very first name I found was Alba! A little spooky, as I had served in Vietnam for a year and a half.

I recall my Dad telling me about 3 Alba brothers (his Uncles I think) that had married 3 sisters out West.

I think there is a famous painting, "The Duchess of Alba" by Goya - Spain.

I was told Alba might have had a "di", "d", or "de" in front of it at one time - again, derivative from Spain.

Don't know if any of this helps you all, but as I get older, I find myself more and more curious about the name.

Hope this adds value to the conversation and I hope it keeps going.

Benito Alba