A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cerda family of Spain.
Reg. 1091 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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.: aux 1 et 4 parti: a de gu. à une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'or (Castille); b. d'arg. au lion de gu., cour d'or (Leon); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis d'or (France). Cq. cour. C.: une femme iss. de carn., ailée de gu., les ailes abaissées, les yeux bandés, la poitrine nue, les reins ceints d'une jupe de gu., tenant de sa main dextre un aviron. L. d'or et de gu.”
Spainc. 1491
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Map of Spain showing where the Cerda arms are recorded
The Cerda arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1491.
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.
Isabella I of Castile
Sovereign of the period
Isabella I of Castile
1474–1504
Reigning in Spain when the Cerda 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 Cerda Family in Spain
The surname Cerda traces its roots to the medieval Kingdom of Castile, where it emerged as a prominent noble lineage. The name is derived from the Spanish word "cerda," which refers to a coarse hair or bristle, and it was historically associated with the royal house of the Infantes de la Cerda. This branch of the family began in the thirteenth century when Fernando de la Cerda, the eldest son of King Alfonso X, was given the nickname "the Bristle" because he was born with a tuft of hair on his chest. By 1491, members of the family were well-established in the social and political fabric of Castile, serving as influential figures during a time of significant transition for the Iberian Peninsula. Over the centuries, the family expanded across Spain and into the Americas, maintaining a legacy linked to their early status within the Castilian aristocracy.
Cerda Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cerdus
Latin term referring to a type of coarse hair or bristle.
This name
CerdaRefers to a person with coarse hair or a bristly appearance.
also spelled
Serda
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Menéndez Pidal, Ramón. La España del Cid. 1929
Salazar y Acha, Jaime de. La Casa Real de Castilla y León en la Edad Media. 1997
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro General del Sello
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
