Map of Spain showing where the Melgarejo arms are recorded
The Melgarejo 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 Melgarejo 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 Melgarejo Family in Spain
The surname Melgarejo has deep roots in the historical region of Castile, Spain, where it was established well before the early 18th century. Etymologists often trace the name to a combination of words that suggest a person who was either a honey merchant or someone who possessed a sweet and pleasant personality. By 1722, records confirm that families bearing this name were active participants in the social and administrative life of the Castilian heartland. During this era, the Melgarejo family was part of the local landed gentry and often held positions of responsibility within their communities. As the Spanish Empire expanded, members of the family eventually moved beyond Castile to settle in various parts of the Americas, carrying their name and traditions to new territories. Their presence in historical documents from this period highlights their role as a stable and integrated family unit within the rigid social structure of colonial-era Spain.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
melgar
A place where honey is produced or a honey-rich field.
This name
MelgarejoDerived from a topographic location associated with honey production or beekeeping.
also spelled
Mellgarejo
Melgareho
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección de Órdenes Militares
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