A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sotelo family of Spain.
Reg. 7375 · Spanish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à la croix florencée d'or, acc. de quatre chaussetrapes du même dans les cantons de l'écu; à la bord. d'or, ch. de huit écussons d'azur surch. chacun d'une bande d'arg.”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Sotelo arms are recorded
The Sotelo arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Sotelo 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Sotelo Family in Spain
The surname Sotelo originates from the northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically derived from the Spanish word "soto," which refers to a grove or a small forest near a riverbank. Families carrying this name were historically associated with these fertile, wooded areas, often serving as landowners or stewards of the local landscape. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Andalusia, a region defined by its rich cultural exchange and agricultural prosperity. Records from 1722 confirm that members of the Sotelo family were well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of Andalusian life during this period. As the family expanded, they moved through various Spanish provinces, carrying their name as a reflection of their ancestral connection to the land and the natural geography of their origins.
Sotelo Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Sotellus
A Latin diminutive form meaning small grove or thicket.
This name
SoteloRefers to a person who lived near a small wooded area or thicket.
also spelled
Sotello
Zotelo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro General del Sello, 1722
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección Nobleza, 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
cross symbolChristian faith and service
caltrapA warning to enemies of a well-defended position
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
