A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Almonte family of England.
cross symbolChristian faith and serviceSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. a cross vairé”
The Almonte arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
Reigning in England when the Almonte arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The history of the Almonte name is deeply rooted in the movement of people across borders during the seventeenth century. While the name is often associated with later Spanish and Latin American lineages, records indicate that individuals bearing the name were present in the city of York, England, as early as 1620. This suggests that the family was part of a small but significant group of continental Europeans who settled in Northern England during a period of intense religious and political transition. These early settlers likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes of York, navigating the social complexities of a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration. By establishing themselves in this historic center, the early members of the family contributed to the diverse cultural fabric of the region long before the name gained prominence in other parts of the world.
Latin phrase meaning to the mountain or at the mountain.
