A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Azambuja family of Portugal.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à quatre bandes de gu.”
The Azambuja 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.
Reigning in Portugal when the Azambuja arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Azambuja originates from a place name in Portugal, specifically derived from the town of Azambuja located north of Lisbon. The name itself is thought to come from the Arabic word *al-shajara*, which refers to a type of wild olive tree that once grew abundantly in that region. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Lisbon, where they participated in the social and administrative life of the capital. During this period, the family was well-integrated into the urban fabric of the city, often appearing in official parish records and municipal documents that track the movement of residents during the reign of King John V. These early records show that the Azambuja family members were active participants in the professional and religious communities of Lisbon, helping to cement their name as a recognized part of the city’s history by 1706.
Latin term for the elderberry tree or shrub.
