A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bandeira family of Portugal.
Reg. 0436 · Portuguese, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à la bannière d'arg., ch. d'un lion d'azur; au 2 d'or à l'aigle de sa.; au 3 d'azur au soleil d'or; au 4 de gu. à quatre fasces ondées d'or.”
Portugalc. 1706
Where the Bandeira Arms Were Recorded
Lisboa
Map of Portugal showing where the Bandeira arms are recorded
The Bandeira 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.
Peter II of Portugal
Sovereign of the period
Peter II of Portugal
1683–1706
Reigning in Portugal when the Bandeira arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Portugal
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.
Granting authority
The Cartório da Nobreza acted as the official body that managed and regulated noble titles and coats of arms in Portugal.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms through bloodline, though they could also receive new grants from the crown for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the books of the Cartório da Nobreza starting in the year 1512.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Portugal.
Origin & History of the Bandeira Family in Portugal
The surname Bandeira carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the social and administrative landscape of Portugal. By the year 1706, members of the Bandeira family were well-established residents of Lisboa, where they participated in the city's vibrant urban life. The name itself is derived from the Portuguese word for a flag or banner, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors may have held positions of responsibility or leadership that required them to carry such symbols. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were often integrated into the professional and bureaucratic circles of the capital, serving as witnesses to the significant cultural and economic shifts occurring in the kingdom. Their presence in Lisboa during this era indicates that they were part of the growing middle or administrative classes who helped shape the city's identity before the great earthquake of 1755.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bandum
A Germanic term referring to a banner, standard, or military flag.
This name
BandeiraA topographic or occupational surname for a standard-bearer or someone living near a flag.
also spelled
Bandeire
Bandeera
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de, Archivo Heraldico-Genealogico, 1872
Zúquete, Afonso Eduardo Martins, Armorial Lusitano: Genealogia e Heráldica, 1961
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
