Vaqueros were the most important workers in the mission and rancho eras. And some of the first vaqueros were Native American. Learn more about these unique figures on the California frontier. What Does “Vaquero” Mean? The word vaquero is usually translated as “cowboy” in English and literally means “someone in charge of cows.” It also gave rise to the word “buckaroo,” another name for cowboy in English. The vaquero was in charge of managing the cattle and horses of Spanish and Mexican California and was the most important worker in the mission and rancho economies. Vaqueros in Latin America The vaquero phenomenon is widespread all over Latin America. In Mexico…