A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Almada family of Portugal.
Reg. 8718 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la bande d'azur, acc. de deux aigles de gu. et ch. de deux croix florencées d'or, posées dans le sens de la bande.”
CastileCastile, c. 1706
Where the Almada Arms Were Recorded
Map of Portugal showing where the Almada arms are recorded
The Almada arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1706.
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 Portugal in this period.
Peter II of Portugal
Sovereign of the period
Peter II of Portugal
1683–1706
Reigning in Portugal when the Almada 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Almada Family in Portugal
The surname Almada traces its roots to the Iberian Peninsula, where it emerged as a prominent name associated with the nobility and landholding classes of the region. By the early eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the Almada family were well established in Castile, Spain. The name itself is often linked to the Arabic word "al-mada," which translates to "the mine" or "the place of the metal," suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors may have been connected to mining operations or lived near significant mineral deposits. As the family grew in influence, they became deeply involved in the political and social life of the Spanish kingdoms. Their presence in Castile by 1706 highlights a period when the family was actively participating in the administration and development of the region during a time of significant transition for the Spanish crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
al-ma'ida
Arabic term referring to a table or a plateau.
This name
AlmadaRefers to a person who lived near a table-shaped mountain or plateau.
also spelled
Almadaa
Almadah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ferreira, João Pedro, Dicionário Histórico, Corográfico, Heráldico, Biográfico, Bibliográfico, Numismático e Artístico, 1904
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1706
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de, Archivo Heráldico-Genealógico de Portugal, 1872
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
