Map of Spain showing where the Melara arms are recorded
The Melara arms were recorded in Estrémadure, c. 1722.
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 Melara 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 Melara Family in Spain
The surname Melara has deep roots in the Extremadura region of Spain, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early 18th century. During this period, Extremadura was a rugged landscape defined by its agricultural traditions and its history as a frontier territory. Families like the Melaras often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they played essential roles in local farming and village governance. Because the region served as a crossroads for trade and travel between central Spain and Portugal, the family likely interacted with diverse groups of people, which helped shape their local influence. By 1722, the Melara name was already tied to the social fabric of the region, reflecting a lineage that relied on resilience and deep connections to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mela
Derived from the Latin word malum meaning apple or apple tree.
This name
MelaraA topographic surname referring to someone who lived near an apple orchard.
also spelled
Mylara
Milarra
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Badajoz, Protocolos Notariales
Archivo Diocesano de Plasencia, Libros Sacramentales
Madoz, Pascual, Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de Ultramar, 1845
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
