A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meraz family of Spain.
Reg. 0466 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saracens head affronty coupedA crusade fought, and an enemy met in the field
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à cinq têtes de Sarasin, de carn., posées de face, 2, 1 et 2, coiffées de turbans d'arg. à fond de gu., la tête du milieu cour. en outre d'une couronne à rayons d'or; au 2 d'azur à la croix alésée d'arg., chaque bout du pal terminé en une main appaumée d'arg. et la traverse supp. de chaque côté une main appaumée du même, en pal, les doigts en haut; à une aigle de sa., br. sur le milieu de la croix, le tout acc. des mots OMNIA VINCIT VIRTUS, en lettres d'or.”
SpainAsturies, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Meraz arms are recorded
The Meraz arms were recorded in Asturies, 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 Meraz 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 Meraz Family in Spain
The family name Meraz has deep roots in the northern region of Spain known as Asturias. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this mountainous area by the year 1722. During this period, Asturias was a rugged landscape defined by its proximity to the Cantabrian Mountains and the Bay of Biscay. Families in this region often lived in small, rural communities where they worked in agriculture or local trades. Because the name is tied to this specific geographic area, it likely developed as a way to identify people based on their local origins or their connection to the land. Over time, as families moved from these northern villages to other parts of Spain and eventually across the Atlantic, the name traveled with them, preserving a link to their ancestral home in the Spanish north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mera
A Galician toponym referring to a boundary or a riverbank.
This name
MerazA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near the Mera river or boundary.
also spelled
Meraz
Merass
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Histórico Diocesano de Oviedo, Libros Sacramentales de la Parroquia de San Martín de Luiña, 1722
García Pérez, Constantino, Diccionario etimológico de apellidos españoles, 2009
Morgado García, Arturo, La sociedad asturiana en la Edad Moderna, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saracens head affronty coupedA crusade fought, and an enemy met in the field
handFaith, sincerity and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saracens head affronty coupedA crusade fought, and an enemy met in the field
handFaith, sincerity and justice
