A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barrenechea family of Spain.
Reg. 4196 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 une tour d'arg., accostée de deux lions affr. d'or, ramp. contre la tour.”
SpainBiscaye, c. 1722
Where the Barrenechea Arms Were Recorded
Biscaye
Map of Spain showing where the Barrenechea arms are recorded
The Barrenechea arms were recorded in Biscaye, 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 Barrenechea 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 Barrenechea Family in Spain
The family name Barrenechea originates from the Basque region of northern Spain, specifically within the province of Biscay. The name is derived from the Basque words "barren," meaning interior or deep, and "etxea," meaning the house. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived in a home situated in a valley or at the furthest point of a settlement. By 1722, records confirm that the Barrenechea family was well-established in this mountainous territory, where they were deeply integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the Basque people. During this period, families in Biscay often defined their identity through their connection to specific ancestral farmsteads, known as "baserriak," which served as the foundation for their community standing and regional heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barren-etxea
Basque terms for inner or remote and house.
This name
BarrenecheaRefers to a house located in a remote or innermost area.
also spelled
Barreneche
Barrenechia
Barreneca
Barenechaya
Related arms
Clerondesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gorosabel, Pablo de, Diccionario histórico-geográfico-descriptivo de los pueblos, valles, partidos, alcaldías y uniones de Guipúzcoa, 1862
Mendiburu, Manuel de, Diccionario histórico-biográfico del Perú, 1874
Archivo Histórico Eclesiástico de Bizkaia, Libros Sacramentales de la Diócesis de Bilbao
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
