A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Serpas family of Spain.
Reg. 9240 · Spanish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un dragon à deux pattes de sin., ailé du même; à la bord. comp. de dix pièces d'arg. et de gu., chaque compon d'arg. ch. d'un écusson d'azur surch. de cinq bes. d'arg., 2, 1 et 2, et chaque compon de gu. ch. d'une tour d'or.”
CastileCastile, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Serpas arms are recorded
The Serpas arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
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 Serpas 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Serpas Family in Spain
The Serpas family name traces its historical roots to the Castile region of Spain, where documented records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1722. During this period, Castile was a central hub of Spanish administrative and social life, and families living there were often deeply connected to the local agricultural or military structures of the time. The name itself likely evolved from regional naming customs or geographical markers common to the Iberian Peninsula. As the eighteenth century progressed, members of the family began to move beyond their original home, eventually participating in the broader expansion of the Spanish Empire. This migration pattern was typical for families of that era who sought new opportunities in colonial territories, allowing the Serpas name to spread across different regions while maintaining its distinct historical link to its Castilian origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Serpens
Latin term referring to a snake or a creeping creature.
This name
SerpasA topographic or descriptive surname likely denoting someone associated with snakes or a winding path.
also spelled
Serpas
Serpae
Serpa de la Motte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1722
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Consejo de Castilla, 1722
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