A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colmenares family of Spain.
Reg. 4097 · Spanish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Tiercé en pairle renversé ployé: à dextre de sin. à neuf bes. d'or, 3, 3 et 3; à sen. d'arg à quatre bandes de sa.; et en p. d'or à cinq fleurs-de-lis de sin., 1, 2 et 1.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
Where the Colmenares Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Colmenares arms are recorded
The Colmenares 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 Colmenares 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 Colmenares Family in Spain
The surname Colmenares originates from the historic region of Castile in central Spain. The name is topographic, meaning it was derived from the landscape where the family first settled. It comes from the Spanish word colmenar, which refers to a place where beehives are kept. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely involved in beekeeping or lived near a prominent apiary. By the early 18th century, the family had established a firm presence in the Castilian countryside, where they were integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the region. As the family grew, they moved into various administrative and professional roles, helping to preserve the name as a distinct identifier within the Spanish heartland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
colmenar
A place where beehives are kept.
This name
ColmenaresRefers to a person who lived near or worked at an apiary or beehive site.
also spelled
Colmenare
Colmenarez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià i les Illes, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Archivo de la Real Chancillería de Valladolid: Registro de Ejecutorias, 1722
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
