Map of Portugal showing where the Lops arms are recorded
The Lops arms were recorded in Portugal, c. 1706.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Lisboa.
Lisbon was the seat of the Portuguese crown and the port its wealth came through. Families made rich by trade and by service to the king took arms, and the crown's heralds recorded them there.
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 Portugal in this period.
Peter II of Portugal
Sovereign of the period
Peter II of Portugal
1683–1706
Reigning in Portugal when the Lops arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Portugal
In Portugal, a coat of arms was a family possession that passed from a father to his children. Every legitimate descendant had the right to use the family shield without needing to change it. Younger branches of the family kept the original design, though they sometimes added small symbols to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
The Cartório da Nobreza acted as the official body that managed and regulated noble titles and coats of arms in Portugal.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms through bloodline, though they could also receive new grants from the crown for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the books of the Cartório da Nobreza starting in the year 1512.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Portugal.
Origin & History of the Lops Family in Portugal
The surname Lops appears in the historical landscape of Portugal as a distinct variation of the more common Lopo or Lopes. By the year 1706, members of the Lops family were already established residents of Lisboa, living during a period of significant urban growth and architectural renewal following the restoration of the Portuguese monarchy. Families with this name often integrated into the bustling trade networks of the capital city, where they participated in the merchant classes and the administrative life of the kingdom. Because the name is rooted in the ancient Germanic name Lopo, which translates to wolf, it carries a legacy of strength that was popular among the early nobility and commoners alike. As the family settled into the neighborhoods of Lisboa, they contributed to the social fabric of a city that served as the primary gateway for global exploration and commerce. Their presence in the early eighteenth century reflects a time when families were increasingly documented through parish registers and tax records, marking the Lops name as a permanent part of the historical identity of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. on a chev. betw. three eagles rising or, as many bars gemelle gu. on a chief of the second five lozenges of the first, for LOPES; 2nd and 3rd, in a landscape field a fountain, thereout issuing a palm tree all ppr., for FRANCO”
DevonMaristow · Devon, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Lops arms are recorded
The Lops arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Portugal when the Lops arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Devon.
Origin & History of the Lops Family in England
The Lops family name has roots in the rugged landscape of Devon, England, where records confirm their presence as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, Devon was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural development, which likely shaped the daily lives of these early family members. The name itself is thought to be a variation of regional surnames common to the West Country, where phonetic spellings often shifted based on local dialects and the literacy of the record keepers. As the family established themselves in this region, they were part of a society transitioning through significant religious and political changes. By settling in the southwestern corner of England, the early Lops family became part of a community that relied heavily on the local economy of trade and farming. Their presence in the historical record during this time offers a glimpse into the lives of provincial families who helped define the social fabric of rural England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lupus
Latin term for a wolf.
This name
LopsA patronymic or descriptive surname derived from the Latin word for wolf.
also spelled
Lopez
Loppez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de Sanches de Baena, Archivo Heraldico-Genealogico, 1872
Mattoso, José, A Nobreza Medieval Portuguesa: A Família e o Poder, 1981
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa
Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa, Livros de Vereação da Câmara Municipal de Lisboa
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
