Barajas Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barajas family of Spain.

Reg. 7377 · Spanish, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Barajas Arms Were Recorded

Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Barajas arms are recorded

The Barajas 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.

Region
Castile
First recorded
1722

Granting Authority for the Barajas Arms

Arms of Cronista Rey de Armas
Cronista Rey de Armas
Authority

Cronista Rey de Armas

1496-present

The body that granted and recorded arms in Spain in this period.

Portrait of Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period

Philip V of Spain

1714–1724

Reigning in Spain when the Barajas 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 Barajas Family in Spain

The name Barajas is deeply rooted in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within the region of Castile. Etymologists often trace the name to the Spanish word "baraja," which historically referred to a deck of cards or a place where people gathered to trade and socialize. In the context of early surnames, it likely served as a topographic name, identifying families who lived near a specific marketplace or a location known for public gatherings. By the early 18th century, the Barajas family was well-established in the Castilian landscape, contributing to the agricultural and social fabric of the region.

During the 1700s, families like the Barajas were often tied to the land through local parish records and municipal censuses. Because Castile was the heart of the Spanish kingdom, families living there were frequently involved in the expansion of administrative and religious life. By 1722, the Barajas name was documented in local archives, marking a period where the family was settled and active in their community. These early records suggest a family that was integrated into the local economy, likely working as landowners or skilled laborers who helped maintain the stability of their village during a time of significant transition in Spanish history.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Varalia

A fence of wooden posts.

This name
BarajasThe family from the place enclosed by a wooden fence.
also spelled
Barajaz
Barahas
Baraja

Documented Sources

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

García Carraffa, Alberto and Arturo. Diccionario heráldico y genealógico de apellidos españoles y americanos. 1952

Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959

Archivo Histórico Nacional. Sección Nobleza, Protocolos Notariales de Castilla. 1722

Archivo General de Simancas. Catastro de Ensenada. 1750