A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Enrique family of Spain.
Reg. 1470 · Spanish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“De gu. à une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'or, celle du milieu plus élevée, ouv. et aj. d'azur; le champ chapé d'arg., à deux lions affr. de gu., cour. d'or.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
Where the Enrique Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Enrique arms are recorded
The Enrique 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 Enrique 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 Enrique Family in Spain
The name Enrique originates from the Germanic name Heinrich, which translates to ruler of the home. Over many centuries, this name traveled from Central Europe into the Iberian Peninsula, where it was adopted by the Spanish language and eventually became a common surname. By the early 18th century, families bearing the name Enrique were well-established in the region of Castile. At this time, Castile was a central hub for Spanish administration and social life, making it a significant place for families to settle and grow. Records from 1722 confirm that members of the Enrique family were active participants in the local community, likely working in roles common to the period such as agriculture, trade, or local governance. These early ancestors helped shape the history of the name by embedding it into the social fabric of the Castilian countryside long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heinrich
Germanic name composed of elements meaning home and ruler.
This name
EnriqueA Spanish name meaning ruler of the home or lord of the house.
also spelled
Enrique
Enrikes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
García de Cortázar, José Ángel, Historia de España: De la época visigoda a la Edad Media, 2003
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
