A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Canals family of Spain.
Reg. 5723 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une croix pommetée de gu., acc. de trois coquilles d'arg., rangées en p.”
CataloniaCatalonia, c. 1722
Where the Canals Arms Were Recorded
Catalonia
Map of Spain showing where the Canals arms are recorded
The Canals 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 Canals 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 Canals Family in Spain
The surname Canals is a topographic name that originated in the Catalonia region of Spain. It comes from the Catalan word for channels or canals, which suggests that the earliest families likely lived near irrigation ditches, watercourses, or natural waterways. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the Catalan landscape, where they were deeply integrated into the local agricultural and social structures of the time. Because Catalonia was a hub for trade and farming, families with this name were often connected to the management of water resources, which were essential for the survival of the region's vineyards and crops. This historical link to the land helped the family name persist through generations as they moved from rural farming communities into the growing towns of the Iberian Peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Canalis
Latin term referring to a pipe, channel, or water conduit.
This name
CanalsA topographic surname for someone who lived near a canal or water channel.
also spelled
Canalz
Kanals
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Alcover, Antoni M. and Moll, Francesc de B., Diccionari català-valencià-balear, 1962
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó, Registres de la Reial Cancelleria
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
