A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arnau family of Spain.
Reg. 7546 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 demi-vol d'or, en chef, posé en fasce, le dossier à sen., et une fleur-de-lis d'arg. en p.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Arnau Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Arnau arms are recorded
The Arnau 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 Arnau 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 Arnau Family in Spain
The surname Arnau is a variation of the Germanic name Arnold, which combines the words for eagle and power. While the name has deep roots in various parts of Europe, its presence in the Castile region of Spain by 1722 reflects the movement of families across the Iberian Peninsula during the early modern period. During this time, families often settled in specific provinces to participate in local agriculture or trade, helping to establish the name within the social fabric of the Spanish interior. Because the name was passed down through generations, it became a marker of identity for those living in Castilian towns, linking them to a long lineage of ancestors who navigated the changing political and economic landscape of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arnwald
A Germanic compound meaning eagle and power or ruler.
This name
ArnauA Catalan surname derived from the Germanic name meaning eagle power.
also spelled
Arnault
Arnauld
Arnao
Arnaux
Arno
Related arms
Arnaovariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1996
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
