A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mendizabal family of Spain.
Reg. 9992 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wolfReward from long service and hard work
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux loups affr. de sa., ramp. contre une chaudière suspendue à deux crocs adossés du même, mouv. du chef; à la bord. de gu., ch. de huit flanchis d'or.”
SpainGuipuzcoa, c. 1722
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 Spain showing where the Mendizabal arms are recorded
The Mendizabal arms were recorded in Guipuzcoa, 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 Mendizabal 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 Mendizabal Family in Spain
The name Mendizabal is a classic example of a Basque topographic surname, which means it was derived from the physical features of the landscape where the family lived. In the Basque language, the name combines the words "mendi," meaning mountain, and "zabal," meaning wide or broad. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry this name likely resided near a wide mountain pass or on the slopes of a prominent, expansive ridge in the Basque Country. By the early 18th century, records confirm that the family had established a firm presence in the province of Guipuzcoa. During this period, the region was characterized by small, independent family farmsteads known as "baserriak." Families like the Mendizabals were deeply connected to their local land and often served as pillars of their rural communities, maintaining their ancestral homes for many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mendi and Zabal
Basque words for mountain and wide or broad.
This name
MendizabalRefers to someone who lived near a wide mountain or a broad mountain range.
also spelled
Mendizabel
Mendizaball
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gorrotxategi Nieto, Mikel. Surnames in the Basque Country. 2009
Mitxelena, Koldo. Apellidos vascos. 1953
Archivo General de Guipúzcoa. Sección de Protocolos. 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wolfReward from long service and hard work
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wolfReward from long service and hard work
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
