A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abreu family of Portugal.
Reg. 3602 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à cinq demi-vols d'or, 2, 1 et 2. C.: un vol d'or.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Abreu Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Abreu arms are recorded
The Abreu 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 Abreu 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 Abreu Family in Portugal
The surname Abreu finds its roots in the medieval period of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically emerging from the northern regions of Portugal. The name is considered a toponymic surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific place, likely the town of Abreu located in the Minho province. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the capital city of Lisboa. Records from 1706 confirm that members of the Abreu family were living and working in this urban center during a time of great architectural and cultural growth. As the family moved from their ancestral lands in the north to the bustling capital, they became part of the social and economic fabric of Portuguese city life. This transition reflects the broader historical movement of families seeking new opportunities in the administrative and commercial heart of the kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aper
Latin term for a wild boar.
This name
AbreuA topographic surname referring to a place where wild boars are found.
also spelled
Abreo
Abrayo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de Sanches de Baena, Archivo Heraldico-Genealogico, 1872
Machado, José Pedro, Dicionário Onomástico Etimológico da Língua Portuguesa, 1981
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registros Paroquiais de Lisboa
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
