A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertran family of Spain.
Reg. 2131 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande de gu., bordée d'or.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Bertran Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Bertran arms are recorded
The Bertran arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
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.
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 Bertran 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 Bertran Family in Spain
The surname Bertran finds its roots in the ancient Germanic name Berhtram, which combines the words for bright and raven. Over many centuries, this name spread across Europe as it was adopted by various cultures and adapted into local languages. By the time the family was documented in Castile in 1722, the name had already been established in the region for generations through migration and cultural exchange. Families bearing this name often lived in rural communities where they worked as farmers or artisans. As they settled into the Castilian landscape, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the growth of their towns and villages. The persistence of the name in official records from the eighteenth century suggests that the family was well-integrated into the administrative and religious life of the Spanish kingdom during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht-hramn
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright and raven.
This name
BertranA name signifying a bright or glorious raven, often associated with wisdom and protection.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1996
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección Nobleza, Protocolos Notariales de Castilla, 1722
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
