A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Morales family of Spain.
Reg. 1485 · Spanish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or à un mûrier de sin. sur une terrasse isolée du même; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois fasces de sa. - Ou: Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., bq., m. et diadémée d'or.”
CastileValence · Castile, c. 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Spain showing where the Morales arms are recorded
The Morales 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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Morales 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Morales Family in Spain
The surname Morales is a patronymic name that originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within the region of Castile. It is derived from the Spanish word moral, which refers to a mulberry tree. In the early history of the name, it was common for families to adopt surnames based on the landscape or vegetation surrounding their homes. By the time records confirm the presence of the Morales family in Castile in 1722, the name was already well-established among the local population. Families bearing this name were often involved in the agricultural life of the region, as the mulberry tree was highly valued for its role in the production of silk. Over many generations, the name spread from rural Castilian communities into the broader administrative and social structures of Spain, marking the family as a stable part of the region's long-standing history.
Morales Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
morus
Latin term for the mulberry tree.
This name
MoralesA topographic name for someone who lived near a mulberry tree or grove.
also spelled
Moralez
Morallis
Moralesse
Related arms
Moralisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albaigès i Olivart, Josep Maria, Diccionario de nombres de personas, 1993
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
