A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abrantes family of Portugal.
Reg. 4957 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ravenConstancy and divine providence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à quatre fleurs-de-lis, entremêlées d'autant de corbeaux, et une étoile en abîme, le tout d'or.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Abrantes Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Abrantes arms are recorded
The Abrantes arms were recorded in Portugal, c. 1706.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Lisboa.
Lisbon was the seat of the Portuguese crown and the port its wealth came through. Families made rich by trade and by service to the king took arms, and the crown's heralds recorded them there.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Portugal in this period.
Peter II of Portugal
Sovereign of the period
Peter II of Portugal
1683–1706
Reigning in Portugal when the Abrantes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Portugal
In Portugal, a coat of arms was a family possession that passed from a father to his children. Every legitimate descendant had the right to use the family shield without needing to change it. Younger branches of the family kept the original design, though they sometimes added small symbols to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
The Cartório da Nobreza acted as the official body that managed and regulated noble titles and coats of arms in Portugal.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms through bloodline, though they could also receive new grants from the crown for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the books of the Cartório da Nobreza starting in the year 1512.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Portugal.
Origin & History of the Abrantes Family in Portugal
The family name Abrantes originates from the historic town of the same name located in the Santarém District of Portugal. Historically, the name was often used as a toponymic surname, meaning it was adopted by individuals to identify the place where they lived or held land. By the year 1706, records confirm that members of the Abrantes family were well-established in Lisbon. During this period, the city was a bustling center of trade and royal administration, suggesting that the family likely held positions within the urban professional class or the local bureaucracy. As Lisbon grew into a major maritime power, families like the Abrantes became deeply integrated into the social and economic fabric of the capital, moving away from their rural roots to participate in the rapid development of the Portuguese state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abrantes
Derived from the Latin word abrumpere meaning to break off or separate.
This name
AbrantesRefers to a town located on a steep hill overlooking the Tagus River.
also spelled
Abrante
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pinho Leal, Augusto Soares d'Azevedo Barbosa de. Portugal Antigo e Moderno: Diccionario Geographico, Estatistico, Chorographico, Heraldico, Archeologico, Historico, Biographico e Etymologico. 1873
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo. Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa. 1706
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ravenConstancy and divine providence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ravenConstancy and divine providence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
