A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meza family of Spain.
Reg. 9111 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
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 Meza arms are recorded
The Meza 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 Meza 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 Meza Family in Spain
The family name Meza has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly within the southern region of Andalusia. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was a hub of cultural and economic activity during the Spanish colonial era. The name itself is often associated with the Spanish word for table, which historically referred to a person who lived on a plateau or a high, flat piece of land. As families in Andalusia grew and moved during the 1700s, many individuals carrying the Meza name became part of the broader expansion of Spanish influence across the globe. These early ancestors were likely involved in the agricultural or administrative life of their local communities, helping to shape the social fabric of the region before the name spread further into the Americas.
Meza Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mensa
Latin term referring to a table or a flat surface.
This name
MezaRefers to a person who lived on a plateau or a tableland.
also spelled
Meza
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo General de Indias, Catálogo de Pasajeros a Indias
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección de Consejos, Libro de Registro de la Real Audiencia
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
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
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
