A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pando family of France.
Reg. 9869 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en pal, supp. de sa pointe un petit pain couché d'or, et accosté de douze autre pains pareils, rangés en deux pals.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Pando arms are recorded
The Pando arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Pando arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Pando Family in France
The Pando family name originated in the rugged landscapes of northern Spain, with deep roots tracing back to the region of Navarre. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this territory. The name itself is topographic in nature, which means it was likely used to describe people who lived near a specific type of land feature or a "pando," a term often associated with flat or level ground nestled among hills. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local social and agricultural structures of the Basque and Navarrese countryside. Over the centuries, the Pando name spread from these mountain valleys to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula and eventually across the globe, carried by individuals who maintained their ancestral identity while adapting to new environments.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pandus
Latin term meaning open, spread out, or curved.
This name
PandoRefers to a person living near a curved or spreading landscape feature.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los apellidos vascos, 1999
Endika de Mogrobejo, Diccionario hispano-americano de heráldica, onomástica y genealogía, 1995
Archivo General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
