Map of Spain showing where the Garcia arms are recorded
The Garcia 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 Garcia 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 Garcia Family in Spain
The name Garcia is one of the oldest and most common surnames found in the Iberian Peninsula. Its exact origins are debated by historians, but most experts agree that it comes from the ancient Basque language. It likely evolved from the word "hartz," which means bear, or perhaps from a term meaning young or youthful. Because the name was already well-established in the Middle Ages, it spread rapidly across the kingdoms of Spain. By the time your ancestors were documented in the region of Aragon in 1722, the name had been used for centuries by people from all walks of life, including royalty, soldiers, and farmers. The presence of the family in Aragon during the early eighteenth century reflects a period when the name was deeply rooted in the local culture and social structure of the region.
Garcia Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Gartzea
Basque term meaning bear or young bear.
This name
GarciaA patronymic surname derived from the Basque word for bear, symbolizing strength and courage.
also spelled
Garsia
Garsya
Related arms
Sellonsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1997
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo de la Corona de Aragón, Registro General del Sello
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
