A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giralt family of Spain.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gironné de gu. et d'arg.”
The Giralt arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
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.
Reigning in Spain when the Giralt arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Giralt is rooted in the Germanic personal name Gerald, which combines the elements for spear and rule. Over many centuries, this name spread across Europe and eventually became a hereditary surname in the Iberian Peninsula. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Castile. During this period, families in Castile were often deeply involved in local agricultural management or the service of the Spanish crown. The migration of the name into central Spain reflects the broader movement of people and families across the peninsula during the late Middle Ages and the early modern era. As the Giralt family settled in Castile by 1722, they became part of the long history of families who helped shape the social and administrative landscape of the Spanish interior.
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
