Map of Spain showing where the Oval arms are recorded
The Oval 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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Oval 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 Spain.
Origin & History of the Oval Family in Spain
The family name Oval finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Castile, Spain, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1722. During this era, the region was a center of agricultural and administrative life, and families like the Ovals often played vital roles in local community governance and land management. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Iberian Peninsula, reflecting the geographic or social identity of its earliest bearers. As they settled in the Castilian heartland, these ancestors helped shape the local culture through their participation in the daily activities of the province. Over time, the family became a part of the enduring social fabric of the region, leaving a legacy that remains tied to the history of central Spain.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ovum
Latin term referring to an egg or an oval-shaped object.
This name
OvalA topographic surname referring to someone who lived near an egg-shaped landscape feature.
also spelled
Oval
Ovallee
Ovall
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Consejo de Castilla, Expedientes de pruebas de nobleza, 1722
Archivo de la Real Chancillería de Valladolid, Registro de Ejecutorias, 1722
Cadenas y Vicent, Vicente de, Repertorio de Blasones de la Comunidad Hispánica, 1987. (Note: This source is cited for its genealogical census data regarding Castilian families)
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swordJustice, and military honour
swordJustice, and military honour
