A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arcas family of Portugal.
Reg. 2366 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la fasce de gu.; aux 2 et 3 échiq. d'or et de gu. de quatre tires, chacune de trois points.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Arcas Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Arcas arms are recorded
The Arcas 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 Arcas 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 Arcas Family in Portugal
The surname Arcas carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the Iberian Peninsula. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the Arcas family were established in the bustling city of Lisboa. During this period, the name was associated with families living in a rapidly changing urban environment as Portugal navigated the complexities of trade and colonial growth. The name itself is thought to be topographic or occupational in nature, likely referring to individuals who lived near specific landmarks or worked with chests and storage containers, which were called arcas in the Portuguese language. As the family grew in Lisboa, they became part of the social fabric of a capital city that served as a major gateway between Europe and the wider world. Their presence in 1706 places them in a time of significant cultural development, where families with this name contributed to the local economy and the evolving identity of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arcus
Latin term referring to a bow, arch, or vaulted structure.
This name
ArcasDerived from a topographic feature or a person associated with an archway.
also spelled
Arcass
Arcae
Arcaz
Arkas
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
Freitas, Jordão de, Lisboa de Outrora, 1938
Machado, José Pedro, Dicionário Onomástico Etimológico da Língua Portuguesa, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
