A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guel family of Spain.
Reg. 6095 · Spanish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à deux fasces d'or.”
CataloniaCatalonia, c. 1722
Where the Guel Arms Were Recorded
Catalonia
Map of Spain showing where the Guel arms are recorded
The Guel arms were recorded in Catalonia, c. 1722.
Catalonia lived by sea trade, and its merchant houses were as powerful as its landowners. Both sorts of family took arms, and Barcelona kept records of the houses entitled to bear them.
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 Guel 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 Catalonia.
Origin & History of the Guel Family in Spain
The family name Guel holds deep roots in the northeastern region of Spain known as Catalonia. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, living within a society shaped by Mediterranean trade and local agricultural traditions. During the eighteenth century, Catalonia was a hub of economic growth, and families like the Guels were often involved in the industrious life of the region. As the name spread through local parishes and municipal registers, it became tied to the unique cultural identity of the Catalan people. The family likely navigated the complex social changes of the era, moving from rural life into the developing urban centers that defined the region’s history. Over time, the name became a permanent part of the local landscape, reflecting the resilience and steady growth of families who helped build the foundations of modern Catalan society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gual
Derived from the Germanic word for power or rule.
This name
GuelA Catalan topographic or habitational surname referring to a ford or river crossing.
also spelled
Guel
Guellh
Gwel
Gel
Gwell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó, Catàleg de la Secció de Cancelleria Reial
Arxiu Històric de Protocols de Barcelona, Fons Notarial de Barcelona
Vilar, Pierre, La Catalogne dans l'Espagne moderne, 1962
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
