A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the March family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un marc d'or, le couvercle ouvert et posé de face.”
The March arms were recorded in Aragon, c. 1722.
Aragon was mountain and river country in north-eastern Spain, with a strong tradition of small independent landholders. A great many families counted as gentry there, and each one 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 Spain in this period.
Reigning in Spain when the March 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 history of the March family in Spain is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Aragon region. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in this area, which was a time of significant social change following the War of the Spanish Succession. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Latin word for the month of March, which was often used as a descriptive name for individuals born during that time or those who had a specific connection to the spring season. As the family settled into the local communities of Aragon, they became part of the agricultural and social fabric that defined the region. Their presence in the historical records from 1722 suggests that they were well-integrated into the local administrative systems of the time. This period was marked by a transition toward more centralized record-keeping, which allows us to trace their residence and daily activities through local parish and municipal registers.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second sonSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Sa. on a cross or, betw. four lions' heads erased ar. as many crescents gu”
The March arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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.
Reigning in Spain when the March arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname March is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a specific landmark or boundary. In medieval England, the word "march" referred to a borderland or a frontier, particularly the regions separating England from Wales or Scotland. By the time the name became established, families bearing this title were often associated with these rugged border territories. Records confirm that members of the March family were well-settled in the county of Hampshire by 1620. During this period, Hampshire served as a vital hub for maritime trade and local governance, suggesting that these early ancestors were likely involved in the agricultural or commercial life of the region. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, leaving behind traces in parish registers and tax documents that highlight their steady presence in southern England.
Derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.
