A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abril family of Spain.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à la bande de gu.”
The Abril arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Reigning in Spain when the Abril arms are first recorded.
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The surname Abril finds its roots in the medieval Iberian Peninsula, emerging as a name derived from the Latin word *aprilis*, which refers to the fourth month of the year. Historically, such names were often given to individuals who were born in April, baptized during that month, or associated with a significant event that occurred at that time. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in the region of Castile, a central area of Spain known for its deep historical ties to the formation of the Spanish language and monarchy. During this period, families like the Abrils were often part of the local social fabric, living in agricultural or town settings where they contributed to the regional economy and community life. As the family grew, they became part of the broader migration patterns that moved people across the Spanish provinces, helping to spread the name throughout the country and eventually to the Americas.
The Latin month name derived from aperire meaning to open.
