Map of Spain showing where the Moncada arms are recorded
The Moncada arms were recorded in Catalonia, c. 1581.
Catalonia lived by sea trade, and its merchant houses were as powerful as its landowners. Both sorts of family took arms, and Barcelona kept records of the houses entitled to bear them.
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 II of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip II of Spain
1556–1598
Reigning in Spain when the Moncada 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 Catalonia.
Origin & History of the Moncada Family in Spain
The Moncada family name originates from the region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. By the late 16th century, the family was well-established in this area, playing a significant role in the local social and political landscape. The name itself is linked to the town of Montcada i Reixac, which is located near Barcelona. Historically, families often took their surnames from the lands they owned or the places where they lived. As the family grew in influence, they became deeply involved in the administration and military affairs of the Catalan territories. Their presence in 1581 marks a time when the family was already a recognized part of the regional nobility, helping to shape the development of their community through land management and local governance.
Moncada Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mons Catus
Latin for cat mountain or hill of the cat.
This name
MoncadaA habitational name derived from a mountain or hill associated with wild cats.
also spelled
Moncadae
Moncadda
Monkada
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pujades, Jeroni. Crónica universal del principado de Cataluña. 1609
Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó. Cancelleria Reial, Registres
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
