A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aldaba family of France.
Reg. 4618 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une aigle de profil de sa., le vol levé, posée sur une terrasse d'or; au 2 d'or à deux loups pass. de sa., l'un sur l'autre; au 3 d'or à trois pals d'azur. Sur le tout d'or au lion de gu.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Aldaba Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Aldaba arms are recorded
The Aldaba arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Aldaba arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Aldaba Family in France
The surname Aldaba originates from the Basque region of northern Spain, specifically within the historical Kingdom of Navarre. The name is derived from the Basque word "aldapa," which refers to a steep slope or a hillside. This suggests that the earliest families bearing this name likely lived on or near the rugged, mountainous terrain characteristic of the Pyrenees. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Aldaba family were well-established residents of Navarre, where they participated in the local agricultural and social life of their mountain communities. Over time, the family name spread from these isolated hillside settlements into wider Spanish society, carrying with it a linguistic connection to the physical landscape of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
al-dabba
Arabic term referring to a beast, animal, or a specific creature.
This name
AldabaDerived from the Arabic term for a beast or animal, often associated with a nickname or occupational descriptor.
also spelled
Aldabah
Aldabas
Aldabae
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los nombres de los pueblos, villas y ciudades de Navarra, 1999
Endika de Mogrobejo, Diccionario hispano de apellidos y blasones, 1995
Archivo General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wolfReward from long service and hard work
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wolfReward from long service and hard work
