A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Costilla family of Spain.
Reg. 7540 · 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
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Map of Spain showing where the Costilla arms are recorded
The Costilla 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 Costilla 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 Costilla Family in Spain
The surname Costilla originates from the Spanish word for rib, which likely served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor. Historical records confirm that members of the Costilla family were firmly established in the region of Castile by 1722. During this era, Castile was the political and cultural heart of Spain, serving as a central hub for the administration of the Spanish Empire. Families living in this region often played vital roles in local governance, agriculture, or military service as the kingdom expanded its influence. Because the name is tied to a common noun, it suggests that the family likely emerged from the working classes or the landed peasantry who helped define the social structure of the Castilian countryside during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Costa
Derived from the Latin word costa meaning rib or side.
This name
CostillaA topographic surname referring to someone who lived on a hillside or slope.
also spelled
Castille
Castillan
Kastiya
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
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección de Consejos Suprimidos
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
