Map of Spain showing where the Cervantes arms are recorded
The Cervantes arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Cervantes 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Cervantes Family in Spain
The surname Cervantes is deeply rooted in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, originating from the Spanish word *ciervo*, which means stag or deer. Historically, the name often functioned as a topographic descriptor, likely identifying families who lived near a place known for its deer population or a location named Cervantes in the province of Lugo. By the early 18th century, the family had established a firm presence in the Andalusia region, a vibrant area known for its unique blend of cultural influences. Members of the family living in this southern territory during 1722 were part of a society transitioning through significant social and economic shifts under the Bourbon monarchy. While the name is most famously associated with the literary giant Miguel de Cervantes, the broader family history reflects the movement and settlement patterns of common people across Spain as they built their lives in the fertile lands of the south.
Cervantes Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cervus
Latin word meaning deer or stag.
This name
CervantesRefers to a person who lived near a place where deer were kept or hunted.
also spelled
Servantes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
García Carraffa, Alberto and Arturo. Enciclopedia heráldica y genealógica hispano-americana. 1920
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959
Archivo General de Simancas. Registro del Sello de Corte. 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
