A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Montijo family of Spain.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un puits d'arg., sommé d'un fer en ogive avec sa poulie d'arg.; le puits ac-”
The Montijo arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
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.
Reigning in Spain when the Montijo arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Montijo originates from the Iberian Peninsula and is deeply rooted in the geography of Spain. The word itself is derived from the Latin term *monticulus*, which translates to a small mountain or hill. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name likely lived near a prominent landmark or a specific elevated settlement. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Castile. During this period, families in Castile often held positions of local influence or were involved in the agricultural management of the rugged landscape. As the family grew, they became part of the broader social fabric of Spanish history, eventually gaining prominence through their involvement in regional administration and political life. The name serves as a historical marker of a lineage that transitioned from local landholders to figures of wider national significance.
A small hill or mound derived from Latin mons.
