A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ponce de Leon family of Spain.
Reg. 3977 · Spanish, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au I. reparti, d'arg. au lion de pourpre (Leon) et d'or à quatre pals de gu. (Aragon); à la bord. d'azur, ch. de huit écussons d'or, surchargés chacun d'une fasce d'azur (Vidaure), qui est de Ponce de Leon; au II. reparti, de gu. à un château d'or, sommé de trois tours crén. du même, ouv. et aj. d'azur (Carrillo), et d'or à la bande de sin. (Albornoz).”
Spainc. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Ponce de Leon arms are recorded
The Ponce de Leon 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 Ponce de Leon 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 Ponce de Leon Family in Spain
The family name Ponce de León traces its origins to the medieval kingdom of Castile, where it emerged as a prominent noble lineage. The name itself is a combination of the ancient Germanic name Ponce and the title de León, which indicates a historical connection to the royal house of León. By the early 18th century, the family had firmly established itself within the social and political structure of the region, as evidenced by records of their presence in Castile in 1722. During this era, members of the family often served in high-ranking administrative or military roles, helping to shape the local governance of the Spanish territories. Their influence was built upon deep ancestral roots that linked them to the complex power dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pontius and Leo
Derived from the Latin for fifth and the Greek for lion.
This name
Ponce de LeonRefers to a person from the bridge of the lion, signifying noble strength.
also spelled
Ponce Leon
Ponce de Lyon
Ponce Lyon
Ponsa de Leon
Ponce
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Argote de Molina, Gonzalo, Nobleza del Andaluzia, 1588
Salazar y Castro, Luis de, Historia genealógica de la Casa de Lara, 1696
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1722
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
