A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alvo family of Portugal.
Reg. 6772 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'or; à la bande de gu., br. sur le tout et ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Alvo Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Alvo arms are recorded
The Alvo arms were recorded in Portugal, c. 1706.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Lisboa.
Lisbon was the seat of the Portuguese crown and the port its wealth came through. Families made rich by trade and by service to the king took arms, and the crown's heralds recorded them there.
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 Alvo 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 Portugal.
Origin & History of the Alvo Family in Portugal
The family name Alvo carries a history deeply rooted in the vibrant urban landscape of eighteenth-century Portugal. By 1706, members of the Alvo family were well-established residents of Lisboa, a city that served as the bustling heart of the Portuguese Empire during the reign of King João V. During this period, the name was associated with individuals navigating the complex social and economic shifts of a capital city defined by its maritime trade and colonial wealth. While the precise origins of the name remain a subject of study, its presence in early modern Lisboa suggests that the family was part of the growing class of citizens who contributed to the administrative and commercial life of the city. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant cultural change, witnessing the architectural transformation of the capital long before the devastating earthquake of 1755 reshaped the urban environment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Albus
Latin term meaning white, bright, or fair-skinned.
This name
AlvoA topographic or descriptive surname referring to someone with a fair complexion or white hair.
Related arms
Donisimilar arms
Harmondsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa (1706)
Arquivo Histórico Municipal de Lisboa, Documentação Administrativa da Cidade de Lisboa
Oliveira, César, História de Lisboa, 1992
Pissarra, José, Lisboa no Século XVIII, 2005
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
