A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fuentes family of Spain.
Reg. 6847 · Spanish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
What the shield shows
A blue background with a silver fountain playing from a raised basin, two gold lions facing each other and rearing against its stem, all standing on green ground. The gold letters F, A, D and G sit in the four corners.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une fontaine jaillissante d'arg. composée d'un bassin sur pied, accosté de deux lions affr. d'or, ramp. contre ledit pied; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; dans les cantons de l'écu les lettres F, A, D, G d'or.”
AragonAragon, c. 1722
Where the Fuentes Arms Were Recorded
Aragon
Map of Spain showing where the Fuentes arms are recorded
The Fuentes arms were recorded in Aragon, c. 1722.
Aragon was mountain and river country in north-eastern Spain, with a strong tradition of small independent landholders. A great many families counted as gentry there, and each one needed a shield to be told apart.
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 Fuentes 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 Aragon.
Origin & History of the Fuentes Family in Spain
PronunciationFWEN-tess/ˈfwentes/
The surname Fuentes is a topographic name, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. The word comes from the Spanish term *fuente*, meaning fountain or spring. In medieval times, people often took on the names of natural landmarks near their homes to distinguish themselves from others in their village. Families who lived near a prominent water source, such as a natural spring or a well, eventually adopted this name as their permanent family identifier.
By the early 18th century, the Fuentes family had established a clear presence in the region of Aragon. During this period, the family was likely integrated into the local agrarian society, as water sources were essential for farming and daily survival in the Spanish landscape. Because the name is descriptive, it emerged independently in several different locations across Spain. This means that many families named Fuentes do not share a single common ancestor, but rather share a common connection to the geography of their ancestral homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fons
Latin term referring to a spring, fountain, or source of water.
This name
FuentesA topographic surname for someone who lived near a natural spring or fountain.
also spelled
Fuente
Fuentesa
Fuentesse
Fwentes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albaigés, Josep M., Diccionario de nombres de personas, 1993
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo de la Corona de Aragón, Registros de la Real Cancillería, 1722
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
