A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Iriarte family of France.
Reg. 4417 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un arbre de sin., acc. d'un loup pass. de sa., br. sur le pied du fût, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à quatre pals d'or. L'écu entouré d'une bord. de gu., ch. d'une chaîne d'or.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Iriarte arms are recorded
The Iriarte 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 France when the Iriarte 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 Iriarte Family in France
The surname Iriarte originates from the Basque region of northern Spain, specifically within the historical Kingdom of Navarre. The name is composed of two Basque words, *iri* meaning town or village and *arte* meaning between or among. This suggests that the earliest ancestors who adopted the name likely lived in a house situated between two settlements or perhaps in the center of a village. By 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established members of the Navarrese community, where they often worked as landowners or farmers. Because the Basque language remained strong in this region, the name served as a geographical marker that helped neighbors identify where a person lived in relation to their local surroundings. Over time, as families moved away from their original homes, the name traveled with them, preserving a linguistic link to the landscape of their ancestral homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
iri + arte
Basque words for town or city and between or among.
This name
IriarteRefers to a dwelling located between two towns or within a settlement.
also spelled
Iriart
Yriarte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los nombres de los pueblos, villas y ciudades de Navarra, 1999
Patxi Salaberri Zaratiegi, Euskal deituren izendegia, 2003
Archivo Real y General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales (Tribunales Reales)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
wolfReward from long service and hard work
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
wolfReward from long service and hard work
