A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amorim family of Portugal.
Reg. 2390 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
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)
“De gu. à cinq têtes de More, 2, 1 et 2, barbées d'or, coiffées de turbans d'arg.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Amorim Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Amorim arms are recorded
The Amorim 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 Amorim 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 Amorim Family in Portugal
The surname Amorim is a toponymic name, which means it originated from a specific geographic location. It is derived from the Portuguese word "amorim," which refers to a place where mulberry trees grow. During the Middle Ages, families often adopted the names of the lands they lived on or owned to distinguish themselves from others in the region. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Lisbon, as evidenced by records from 1706. During this period, Lisbon was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families like the Amorims were often involved in the city's growing administrative and merchant classes. Over time, the name spread from its rural roots to become a recognized part of the social fabric of Portugal's capital.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amor
Latin term meaning love or affection.
This name
AmorimA habitational name referring to a place where bitter or wild mulberry trees grow.
also spelled
Amorym
Amorime
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pimpão, Álvaro Júlio da Costa, Dicionário de Nomes e Sobrenomes, 1996
Machado, José Pedro, Dicionário Onomástico Etimológico da Língua Portuguesa, 1981
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa, 1706
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savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
