A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Avila family of Spain.
Reg. 9265 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
What the shield shows
A blue background with a red lion.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion de gu.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
Where the Avila Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Avila arms are recorded
The Avila arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
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 Avila 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Avila Family in Spain
PronunciationAH-vee-lah/ˈaβila/
The family name Avila is a toponymic surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place. It comes from the city of Ávila, located in the central region of Spain. In medieval times, people often adopted the name of their hometown as a way to identify themselves when they traveled or moved to new areas. Because the city of Ávila has ancient roots dating back to the Roman era and played a significant role during the Reconquista, the name became well-established across the Iberian Peninsula.
By the early 18th century, the family had a documented presence in the Castile region. During this period, Castile was the heart of the Spanish kingdom, serving as a center for administration, agriculture, and trade. Families living in this area were often tied to the local land or involved in the bureaucratic systems that supported the Spanish crown. The presence of the Avila name in 1722 suggests that the family was part of the stable, settled population that helped define the social and economic landscape of the Castilian heartland during the Bourbon era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Avila
Derived from the Latin word avis meaning bird.
This name
AvilaA toponymic surname referring to the city in Spain, potentially meaning bird city.
also spelled
Avile
Avilla
Avilas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1722
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
