A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bielsa family of Spain.
Reg. 8905 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à deux ours pass. de sa., l'un sur l'autre; à la bord. de gu., crén. de huit pièces.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Bielsa Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Bielsa arms are recorded
The Bielsa 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 Bielsa 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 Bielsa Family in Spain
The surname Bielsa originates from the northern regions of Spain, specifically taking its name from the town of Bielsa located in the province of Huesca near the Pyrenees mountains. During the medieval period, families often adopted the names of the places where they lived or held land, which helped distinguish them in growing communities. By the early 18th century, members of the family had migrated southward into the heart of Castile. Records confirm that the family was well-established in this region by 1722, likely drawn by the economic opportunities and social stability found in the Castilian heartland during that era. As the family settled into these new areas, they integrated into the local agricultural and administrative life, helping to spread the name across different provinces of the Spanish interior.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bielsa
Derived from the Aragonese town name of pre-Roman or Basque origin.
This name
BielsaA habitational surname referring to someone who originated from the village of Bielsa in Huesca, Spain.
also spelled
Byelsa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2005
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección Nobleza, 1722
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
