A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aranibar family of France.
Reg. 6650 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à l'arbre terrassé de sin., le fût accosté de deux fleurs-de-lis d'azur: à la bord. denchée de gu.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Aranibar Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Aranibar arms are recorded
The Aranibar arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Aranibar arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Aranibar Family in France
The name Aranibar is rooted in the Basque language, which is one of the oldest languages in Europe. It is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally used to describe the specific location where a family lived. The name is composed of two Basque words: "aran," which means valley or plum tree, and "ibar," which means riverbank or meadow. By combining these, the name translates to someone who lived near the riverbank of a valley. Records confirm that members of the Aranibar family were established in the Navarre region of Spain by at least 1663. During this era, families in Navarre often identified themselves by their ancestral homes or the geography of their local village. This practice helped distinguish families within small, tight-knit communities where life centered around agriculture and the local landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aran-ibar
Basque words for valley and riverbank.
This name
AranibarRefers to a dwelling located by the riverbank in the valley.
also spelled
Aranibare
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Mikeldi, E., Diccionario etimológico de apellidos vascos, 1957
Archivo General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales, 1663
Gorrotxategi, M., Nombres y apellidos vascos, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
