A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ballester family of Spain.
Reg. 3115 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à l'arbalète d'arg., posée en pal, cordée d'or, ch. d'une flèche du sec.”
AragonAragon, c. 1722
Where the Ballester Arms Were Recorded
Aragon
Map of Spain showing where the Ballester arms are recorded
The Ballester arms were recorded in Aragon, c. 1722.
Aragon was mountain and river country in north-eastern Spain, with a strong tradition of small independent landholders. A great many families counted as gentry there, and each one needed a shield to be told apart.
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 Ballester 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 Aragon.
Origin & History of the Ballester Family in Spain
The surname Ballester has deep roots in the medieval history of the Iberian Peninsula, originating as an occupational name for a crossbowman. In the Middle Ages, the term "ballestero" referred to a soldier skilled in the use of the crossbow, a weapon that played a crucial role in regional conflicts and border defense. As these soldiers settled into civilian life, the name became a hereditary identifier for their descendants. By the early 18th century, the family had established a documented presence in the Kingdom of Aragon, a region known for its complex social structure and long history of military service. Records from 1722 confirm that members of the Ballester family were active participants in the local economy and social fabric of this area, continuing a legacy that began with the professional soldiers of the past.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ballesta
A medieval projectile weapon known as a crossbow.
This name
BallesterAn occupational surname for a soldier or maker of crossbows.
also spelled
Ballestre
Balester
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 de la Corona de Aragón, Cancillería Real, Registros
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crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
