A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pinheiro family of Spain.
Reg. 3424 · Spanish, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
swordJustice, and military honour
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à un ostensoir d'or, en chef, acc. en p. de trois sabres d'arg., garnis d'or, posés en fasces, l'un sur l'autre, les pointes à dextre; au 2 d'or à un pin de sin., accosté de deux lévriers pass. et affr. au nat., enchaînés au fût; ledit arbre senestré d'une tour au nat., le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; au 3 parti: a. d'arg. au lion de gu., cour. d'or; b. d'arg. à quatre barres de gu.; au 4 d'arg. au lion de gu. L'écu entouré d'une bord. d'or, ch. de huit flanchis de gu.”
Spainc. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Pinheiro arms are recorded
The Pinheiro 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 Pinheiro 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 Pinheiro Family in Spain
The surname Pinheiro is a topographic name that originated in the Iberian Peninsula, derived from the Portuguese and Galician word for a pine tree. Historically, families adopted this name to identify themselves as living near a prominent pine forest or a single landmark tree. While the name is deeply rooted in Portuguese history, the presence of the family in Castile by 1722 highlights the fluid movement of people across the border between Portugal and Spain during the eighteenth century. Families often migrated for economic opportunities or to serve in administrative roles within the Spanish crown. By settling in Castile, these early ancestors integrated into the local social fabric while maintaining a name that reflected their ancestral connection to the landscapes of the western peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pinus
Latin term for the pine tree.
This name
PinheiroRefers to a person who lived near a prominent pine tree or forest.
also spelled
Pinyero
Pinerou
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Piel, Joseph M., Os nomes de lugar e os apelidos de família em Portugal, 1989
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1722
Morgado de Azevedo, Luís, Toponímia e Antroponímia Portuguesa, 1965
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
swordJustice, and military honour
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
swordJustice, and military honour
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
