A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barros family of Spain.
Reg. 5562 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 cinq lions d'arg., 2, 1 et 2.”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
Where the Barros Arms Were Recorded
Andalusia
Map of Spain showing where the Barros arms are recorded
The Barros arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Barros 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Barros Family in Spain
The surname Barros is a toponymic name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific geographic feature or location. In the Portuguese and Spanish languages, the word "barro" refers to clay or mud, suggesting that the earliest ancestors of the family likely lived near clay-rich soil or worked as potters and brickmakers. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. During this period, Andalusia was a vibrant center of trade and agriculture, and families like the Barros were often integrated into the local community through land ownership or skilled craftsmanship. As the family grew, they moved across the Iberian Peninsula, carrying their name into various towns and cities while maintaining their connection to the history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barro
A type of clay or mud found in the earth.
This name
BarrosRefers to someone who lived near a muddy area or worked with clay.
also spelled
Barrosa
Barros
Baroso
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià i les Illes, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1996
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro General del Sello, 1722
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
