A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Medina family of Spain.
Reg. 9418 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
What the shield shows
A gold background with a red lion.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au lion de gu.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Medina Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Medina arms are recorded
The Medina 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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Medina 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 Spain.
Origin & History of the Medina Family in Spain
Pronunciationmeh-DEE-nah/meˈðina/
The name Medina is a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. It comes from the Arabic word *madina*, meaning city. During the Middle Ages, the Iberian Peninsula saw a long period of cultural exchange between Islamic and Christian populations. Many people adopted this name because they lived in or near a town known as Medina, such as Medina del Campo or Medina de Pomar. Over time, the name became a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations.
By the early 18th century, the Medina family was well-established in the region of Castile. Records from 1722 confirm that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of the area. During this era, families in Castile often held positions in local government, agriculture, or trade. Because the name was linked to specific geographic locations, it spread as families migrated across the Spanish kingdoms. The history of the name reflects the complex movement of people and the blending of cultures that defined the development of Spanish society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Madina
Arabic term for a city or urban settlement.
This name
MedinaRefers to a person who originated from or lived in a city.
also spelled
Medyna
Medinna
Medine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Faure, Roberto, María Asunción Ribes, and Antonio García. Diccionario de apellidos españoles. 2001
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959
Archivo Histórico Nacional. Sección Nobleza, diversos linajes. 1722
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
