A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Olvera family of Spain.
branchPeace, and new growthJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à un faisceau de rameaux d'olivier de sin., posé en pal.”
The Olvera arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
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 Olvera 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 surname Olvera originates from the Iberian Peninsula, specifically rooted in the rugged landscapes of the Castile region. The name is topographic in nature, meaning it was likely adopted by families living near or working in areas defined by olive groves, as the word derives from the Spanish term for a place where olives grow. By 1722, records confirm that members of the Olvera family were well-established within the social and administrative structures of Castile. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local agriculture and community governance, reflecting the broader patterns of life in central Spain. As the Spanish Empire expanded, the name traveled across the Atlantic, carried by settlers who brought their ancestral ties and regional traditions to new territories. This migration helped the name evolve from a localized geographic identifier into a broader lineage that persisted through generations of social and political change.
Latin term for the olive fruit or olive tree.
