A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cifuentes family of Spain.
Reg. 1400 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion ramp. au nat.; à la bord. d'arg., ch. de quatre croisettes de gu., posées dans les cantons.”
SpainAsturies, c. 1722
Where the Cifuentes Arms Were Recorded
Asturies
Map of Spain showing where the Cifuentes arms are recorded
The Cifuentes arms were recorded in Asturies, c. 1722.
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 Cifuentes 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 Cifuentes Family in Spain
The surname Cifuentes is a topographic name that originated in Spain, derived from the Latin words "centum fontes," which translate to "one hundred fountains." This name was typically given to families who lived near a place with many springs or a significant water source. While the name is associated with a town in the province of Guadalajara, historical records confirm that members of the Cifuentes family were well-established in the northern region of Asturias by 1722. During this period, families in Asturias often lived in rural mountain communities where they worked in agriculture or local trade. The presence of the family in this northern territory suggests that they were part of the demographic shifts that occurred as families moved across the Iberian Peninsula to settle in new lands. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral connection to these specific landscapes and the natural features that defined their early homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Centum Fontes
Latin phrase meaning one hundred springs or sources.
This name
CifuentesA topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a place with many springs.
also spelled
Cifuente
Cifuentez
Cifuentesse
Seefwentes
Related arms
Bertendonarecorded with Cifuentes, same area
Cáceres-Solisrecorded with Cifuentes, same area
Duarterecorded with Cifuentes, same area
Mendozarecorded with Cifuentes, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears. 1959
Archivo Histórico de Asturias. Padrones y censos de población. 1722
Faure, Roberto, María Asunción Ribes, and Antonio García. Diccionario de apellidos españoles. 2001
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
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
