A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castilla family of Spain.
Reg. 9419 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Tranché de gu. sur arg.; à la bande de sin., br. sur le tranché, engoulée de deux têtes de dragon de sin., lamp. de gu.; le gu. ch. d'une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'or, ouv. et aj. d'azur, et l'arg. ch. d'un lion de gu., cour. d'or.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
Where the Castilla Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Castilla arms are recorded
The Castilla arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
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 Castilla 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Castilla Family in Spain
The family name Castilla is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the geographical region of Castile in central Spain. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted the names of the places where they lived or worked to distinguish themselves from others in their community. Because the Kingdom of Castile played a central role in the unification of Spain, the name became closely associated with the expansion of the Spanish language and culture. By the time your ancestors were documented in the region in 1722, the name had been established for centuries as a marker of regional identity. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local social and agricultural structures of the Castilian plateau, contributing to the development of the rural towns that defined the area during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castellum
A Latin term referring to a fort, castle, or fortified place.
This name
CastillaRefers to a person who lived near or originated from a castle or fortified settlement.
also spelled
Castille
Castillan
Kastiya
Related arms
Castillevariant spelling
Castillovariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1475–1800
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
