A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Messa family of Spain.
Reg. 8548 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à deux petites tables de gu., l'une sur l'autre, soutenues chacune de quatre pieds en forme de deux chev., chaque table ch. de trois petits pains rangés d'or; à la bord. de gu., ch. de huit flanchis d'or.”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Messa arms are recorded
The Messa arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Messa 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Messa Family in Spain
The family name Messa has deep roots in the southern region of Spain known as Andalusia. By 1722, records confirm that members of the Messa family were already established residents in this area. The name itself is thought to be topographic in origin, which means it likely described the landscape where the family first settled. In Spanish, the word mesa refers to a table or a flat-topped hill, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a distinctive plateau or high, level piece of land. As these families grew, they became part of the local social and economic fabric of the Andalusian countryside. Over time, the name spread through the region as descendants moved to different towns and cities to pursue new opportunities in agriculture and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mensa
Latin term referring to a table or a flat surface.
This name
MessaRefers to a person who lived near a plateau or a flat-topped hill.
also spelled
Meza
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección Nobleza
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
