A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alfaro family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6666 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
What the shield shows
A background split down the middle. The left is blue with a silver crescent turned upside down. The right is gold with three green vertical stripes.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur au croiss. versé d'arg.; au 2 d'or à trois pals de sin.”
SpainBiscaye, c. 1722
Where the Alfaro Arms Were Recorded
Biscaye
Map of Spain showing where the Alfaro arms are recorded
The Alfaro arms were recorded in Biscaye, 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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Alfaro arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
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.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Alfaro Family in Spain
Pronunciational-FAH-roh/alˈfaɾo/
The name Alfaro originates from a town of the same name located in the La Rioja region of northern Spain. During the Middle Ages, it was common for families to adopt the name of their home village or town as a way to identify themselves. The name itself is believed to have roots in the Arabic language, likely derived from the term "al-farr," which refers to a lighthouse or a watchtower. This suggests that the earliest inhabitants of the area may have lived near a prominent lookout point used to monitor the surrounding landscape.
By the early 18th century, the family had established a presence in the province of Biscay. This region, located along the northern coast of Spain, was a hub for trade and maritime activity. Families moving into this area often integrated into the local economy through agriculture, craftsmanship, or seafaring. The presence of the Alfaro name in Biscay by 1722 indicates that the family had successfully migrated from their ancestral roots in La Rioja to the northern coast, where they became part of the regional social fabric during a time of significant economic development in the Basque country.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
What the shield shows
A background split down the middle. The left is green with three gold vertical stripes. The right is blue with a silver crescent.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de sin. à trois pals d'or; au 2 d'azur à un croiss. d'arg.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Alfaro Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Alfaro arms are recorded
The Alfaro 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 Spain when the Alfaro 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 Alfaro Family in Portugal
Pronunciational-FAH-roh/alˈfaɾo/
The name Alfaro has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, originating from a place name in the Rioja region of Spain. While the name is famously tied to Spanish geography, it became firmly established in Portugal by the early 18th century. By 1706, records confirm that members of the Alfaro family were living and working in Lisboa. During this period, the city was a bustling center of trade and royal administration, making it a common destination for families moving across the border to seek new opportunities in the capital.
The presence of the Alfaro name in Lisboa during the early 1700s suggests that these individuals were likely part of the growing urban middle class or the merchant community. As the family settled into the social fabric of the city, they integrated into the local parish systems where births, marriages, and deaths were carefully documented. These early records provide a window into how the family transitioned from their ancestral origins into the specific cultural and linguistic environment of Portugal. Over time, the name became a permanent part of the Portuguese landscape, reflecting the long history of movement and connection between the two neighboring nations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
al-faro
Arabic for the lighthouse or the beacon
This name
AlfaroRefers to a person who lived near a lighthouse or a prominent watchtower.
also spelled
Alfarro
Alfaroh
Alfarou
Related arms
Amoros de Sotelorecorded with Alfaro, same area
Andouinsrecorded with Alfaro, same area
Ibarrartrecorded with Alfaro, same area
Ochoarecorded with Alfaro, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
