A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belvis family of Spain.
Reg. 3908 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: au 1 palé de gu. et d'or, de huit pièces; au 2 de sin. plein; au 3 d'or à quatre fasces de gu.; au 4 palé d'or et de gu., de huit pièces.”
CataloniaCatalonia, c. 1722
Where the Belvis Arms Were Recorded
Catalonia
Map of Spain showing where the Belvis arms are recorded
The Belvis arms were recorded in Catalonia, c. 1722.
Catalonia lived by sea trade, and its merchant houses were as powerful as its landowners. Both sorts of family took arms, and Barcelona kept records of the houses entitled to bear them.
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 Belvis 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 Catalonia.
Origin & History of the Belvis Family in Spain
The family name Belvis traces its roots to the rugged landscapes of Catalonia, where historical records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1722. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and agricultural structures of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula. Families like the Belvises often lived in small rural communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or trade. As the eighteenth century progressed, the name became established within parish registries and local census documents, which served as the primary way for authorities to track residents. These early ancestors were part of a regional culture that valued strong family connections and deep ties to the land. By maintaining consistent records in local archives, the Belvis family helped preserve their history through generations of change in Catalonia.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus
Latin term meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BelvisDerived from a descriptive nickname for a person considered attractive or physically pleasing.
also spelled
Belvys
Belves
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó, Catastro de Ensenada
Arxiu Diocesà de Barcelona, Llibres de Baptismes i Matrimonis
Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días, Registros parroquiales de Cataluña
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
