A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gimenez family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7466 · Spanish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
columnFortitude and constancy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, engouée de deux têtes de dragon de sin. et acc. de deux colonnes d'or, couronnées du même, chaque colonne entourée d'un listel d'arg. inscrit des mots: REGIA FORTITUDO.”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
Where the Gimenez Arms Were Recorded
Andalusia
Map of Spain showing where the Gimenez arms are recorded
The Gimenez arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Gimenez 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Gimenez Family in Spain
The surname Gimenez is a patronymic name, which means it was originally formed by adding a suffix to the father’s first name to indicate lineage. It is a variation of the name Jimeno, which likely has roots in the ancient Basque language. By the time the family was firmly established in the Andalusia region of Spain in 1722, the name had become a common identifier for families living in the southern provinces. During this period, Andalusia was a vibrant center of trade and agriculture, and families like the Gimenez line were often integrated into the local parish systems. These local church records served as the primary way to track the family’s growth and movement across the region. Because the name was tied to a common given name, it spread naturally across different social classes as the family members moved through the towns and villages of southern Spain.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une tour d'arg., sommée d'une croix de Lorraine du même, et acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, 2 à dextre, l'une sur l'autre, et 1 à sen., celle-ci plus grande que les deux autres.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Gimenez Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Gimenez arms are recorded
The Gimenez arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Spain when the Gimenez arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Gimenez Family in France
The surname Gimenez finds its roots in the medieval kingdom of Navarre, a region that straddled the border between present-day Spain and France. The name is a patronymic, meaning it was originally formed by adding a suffix to the given name Jimeno, which translates to "son of Jimeno." By 1663, families bearing this name were well-established in the Pyrenees mountain range, a geographic crossroads where Basque and French cultural influences frequently merged. During this period, the Gimenez family lived in a society defined by strict parish record-keeping and agricultural life. As people moved across the porous border between the French Basque Country and Navarre, the name became a marker of lineage for families who navigated the complex political landscape of the seventeenth century. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who helped define the social fabric of the borderlands, leaving behind a legacy that persisted through generations of regional migration and shifting national boundaries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Shim'on
Hebrew for he has heard or God has heard.
This name
GimenezA patronymic surname meaning son of Simon, derived from the biblical name.
also spelled
Jimenez
Himenez
Related arms
Astunisimilar arms
Fenestrosasimilar arms
Hinestrosasimilar arms
Irachetasimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albaigès i Olivart, Josep Maria. Diccionario de nombres de personas. 1993
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959
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
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
columnFortitude and constancy
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
columnFortitude and constancy
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
