A Spanish cartographer in 1776 named the stream Arroyo San José de Cupertino in honour of Saint Joseph of Copertino. The tie led Copertino, in Lecce, Italy, to become Cupertino’s first sister city in 1963, during a visit by Mayor John Benetti in the 300th anniversary year of the saint’s death.
St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish keeps the name in the city today.