A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balda family of Spain.
Reg. 7091 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la tour d'or, ouv. et aj. d'azur; à la bord. échiq. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SpainGuipuzcoa, c. 1722
Where the Balda Arms Were Recorded
Guipuzcoa
Map of Spain showing where the Balda arms are recorded
The Balda arms were recorded in Guipuzcoa, c. 1722.
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 Balda 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 Balda Family in Spain
The family name Balda originates from the Basque region of northern Spain, specifically within the province of Gipuzkoa. Historical records confirm that members of the Balda family were well-established in this area by the early eighteenth century. The name itself is deeply rooted in the Basque language, where it is often associated with geographical features of the rugged mountain landscape. Families in this region during the 1700s were frequently tied to specific ancestral farmsteads or homesteads known as baserriak. These homes served as the center of family life and social identity for generations. By 1722, the Balda family was already integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural and civic traditions that defined life in the Basque Country during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Val
Latin term referring to a valley or a low-lying area.
This name
BaldaA topographic surname denoting someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Balde
Related arms
Baldevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gorosábel, Pablo. Diccionario histórico-geográfico-descriptivo de los pueblos, valles, partidos, alcaldías y uniones de Guipúzcoa. 1862
Mendiburu, José de. Diccionario histórico-geográfico-descriptivo de los pueblos, valles, partidos, alcaldías y uniones de Guipúzcoa. 1862
Archivo Histórico de la Nobleza, Sección Nobleza, Familia Balda
Archivo General de Guipúzcoa, Fondo de Protocolos Notariales
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
