A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mendoza family of Spain.
Reg. 3626 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec. en saut. de sin. et de gu.; le sin. ch. d'une bande de gu. bordée d'or, rebordée de gu.; le gu. ch. de dix panelles d'arg., les tiges en haut., posées dans la direction de l'écartelé, 1, 2, 3 et 4 (à partir du coeur de l'écu), l'une sur l'autre; à deux chaînes d'or en saut., br. sur l'écartelé, réunies en haut et en bas par deux autres chaînes horizontales.”
Spainc. 1490
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Map of Spain showing where the Mendoza arms are recorded
The Mendoza arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1490.
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.
Isabella I of Castile
Sovereign of the period
Isabella I of Castile
1474–1504
Reigning in Spain when the Mendoza 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 Mendoza Family in Spain
The Mendoza family name originated in the Basque region of northern Spain, derived from the words "mendi" meaning mountain and "hotza" meaning cold. By the late Middle Ages, the family had migrated south to the Kingdom of Castile, where they rose to become one of the most powerful and influential noble houses in the country. By 1490, the Mendozas held significant political and military authority, serving as trusted advisors to the Spanish monarchs. Their influence was so great that they played a central role in the administration of the royal court and the expansion of Spanish territories. Through strategic marriages and loyal service to the crown, the family secured vast estates and a lasting legacy that shaped the history of the Iberian Peninsula during a time of major national transition.
Mendoza Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mendia and Otza
Basque words for mountain and cold place or rocky height.
This name
MendozaRefers to a cold mountain or a rocky, elevated location in the Basque country.
also spelled
Mendosa
Mendozza
Mendoze
Related arms
Cifuentesrecorded with Mendoza, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Nader, Helen. The Mendoza Family in the Spanish Renaissance, 1350 to 1550. 1979
Salazar y Acha, Jaime de. La casa real de Castilla en la Edad Media. 2000
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro General del Sello
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
