A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Galves family of Spain.
Reg. 5013 · Spanish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 l'aigle d'arg., bq. d'or.”
AragonAragon, c. 1722
Where the Galves Arms Were Recorded
Aragon
Map of Spain showing where the Galves arms are recorded
The Galves 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 Galves 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 Galves Family in Spain
The surname Galves originates from the northern regions of Spain, with deep roots tied to the historical Kingdom of Aragon. By the early eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established within the Aragonese landscape, living during a time of significant cultural and political transition following the War of the Spanish Succession. The name itself is often linked to the Spanish word "galve," which historically referred to specific types of local vegetation or geographic features found in the rugged terrain of the Iberian Peninsula. As the family grew, members moved through the rural villages and growing towns of the region, contributing to the agricultural and social development of their communities. These early ancestors lived through a period where local parish records and regional census documents began to formalize the identity of families, helping to preserve the Galves name for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Galvus
Latin term referring to a person from the region of Galicia.
This name
GalvesA habitational surname denoting someone who originated from the Galician territory.
also spelled
Galvez
Related arms
Galvezvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Archivo de la Corona de Aragón, Censo de población de 1722
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
