A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alvares family of Spain.
Reg. 9113 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Chequy ar. and gu”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Alvares Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Alvares arms are recorded
The Alvares 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 Alvares 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 Alvares Family in Spain
The surname Alvares is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify someone as the son of Alvaro. The name Alvaro itself is of Germanic origin, likely derived from roots meaning all-protecting or elf-warrior. By the time the name became established in the region of Castile during the early eighteenth century, it had already been in use for several hundred years across the Iberian Peninsula. Families bearing this name were often part of the shifting social landscape of Spain, where they worked as landowners, merchants, or local officials. Because the name was tied to a common given name, it appeared in many different social classes rather than being restricted to a single noble lineage. By 1722, the Alvares name was well-integrated into the administrative and parish records of Castile, reflecting a family history deeply rooted in the daily life and growth of the Spanish heartland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alvaro
Derived from Germanic elements meaning elf and warrior or guardian.
This name
AlvaresA patronymic surname meaning son of Alvaro, signifying noble guardian or elf warrior.
also spelled
Alvarez
Alvaris
Alvaros
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
García Carraffa, Alberto and Arturo. Enciclopedia heráldica y genealógica hispanoamericana. 1919
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
