A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alonso family of Spain.
Reg. 6339 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'arg. au lion de gu.; à la bord. d'or, ch. de cinq croix florencées de gu., 1 en chef, 1 à chaque flanc et 2 dans les cantons de la p.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
Where the Alonso Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Alonso arms are recorded
The Alonso arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
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 Alonso 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Alonso Family in Spain
The surname Alonso is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Alonso. The name Alonso itself is a Spanish variation of the Germanic name Alfonso, which carries the noble meaning of being ready or eager for battle. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Castile, a central area of Spain that played a vital role in the formation of the Spanish language and government. During this period, families in Castile often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they worked in agriculture or local trade. Because the name was tied to a common given name, it spread rapidly across different social classes throughout the Spanish peninsula. This allowed the Alonso family to become a widespread and common presence in the historical records of the region by the time your ancestors were documented in 1722.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalfuns
Derived from Germanic elements meaning noble and ready or prepared.
This name
AlonsoA Spanish name signifying someone who is noble and prepared for battle.
also spelled
Alonzo
Alonxo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
García Sánchez, Jairo Javier, Toponimia mayor de la provincia de Toledo (zonas central y oriental), 2004
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo de la Real Chancillería de Valladolid, Registro de Ejecutorias
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
