A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alegria family of Spain.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à l'aigle de gu.”
The Alegria arms were recorded in Guipuzcoa, c. 1722.
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 Alegria 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 family name Alegria originates from the Basque Country in northern Spain, a region known for its deep historical roots and distinct cultural identity. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the Alegria family were well-established in the province of Guipuzcoa. The name itself is derived from the Spanish word for joy or happiness, which suggests that it may have originally been a descriptive nickname given to a cheerful ancestor. During the early eighteenth century, families in this mountainous region often lived in ancestral farmhouses known as baserriak. These homes served as the center of family life and agricultural production for generations. Because the Basque people maintained strong ties to their local parishes, the history of the Alegria family is closely linked to the church records of Guipuzcoa, which documented births, marriages, and deaths within the community. These records provide a clear window into the lives of early family members who helped shape the social and economic landscape of the province.
Latin term meaning brisk, lively, or cheerful.
