A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alférez family of Spain.
Reg. 2965 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“De gu. à trois bandes d'or; à la bord. de sa., ch. de huit flanchis d'or.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Alférez Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Alférez arms are recorded
The Alférez arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Alférez 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 Alférez Family in Spain
The surname Alférez originates from a medieval military title rather than a traditional family name. In the Spanish language, the word *alférez* refers to an ensign or a standard-bearer who carried the flag into battle. During the Reconquista, men who held this honorable position were often identified by their rank, which eventually transitioned into a hereditary surname for their descendants. By 1722, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Castile. These early ancestors were likely part of the local gentry or military class who maintained influence within the Spanish heartland. Over time, the name spread from its military roots to represent a distinct lineage rooted in the social and administrative structures of the Castilian provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
al-fāris
Arabic term referring to a horseman, knight, or cavalryman.
This name
AlférezA military rank historically denoting a standard-bearer or an ensign in the Spanish army.
also spelled
Alferes
Alferrez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Real Academia Española, Diccionario de la lengua española, 2023
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
