A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sotto family of Spain.
Reg. 5262 · Spanish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 d'azur à l'aigle de sa., acc. en chef de deux fleurs-de-lis d'or et en p. de trois calices du même, rangés en fasce; au 2 d'or à trois cadenas de sa., l'anneau ouvert, 2 et 1; au 3 d'or à deux cadenas de sa., l'anneau ouvert, l'un sur l'au-”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
Where the Sotto Arms Were Recorded
Andalusia
Map of Spain showing where the Sotto arms are recorded
The Sotto 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 Sotto 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 Sotto Family in Spain
The family name Sotto finds its roots in the linguistic landscape of the Iberian Peninsula, where it evolved from the Italian and Spanish word for "under" or "below." Historically, this name often functioned as a topographic descriptor, likely identifying families who lived in low-lying areas, valleys, or beneath prominent landmarks. By the early 18th century, the Sotto family was firmly established in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. During this period, Andalusia served as a vibrant cultural crossroads, shaped by centuries of trade and migration. Families living in this area were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the administrative life of the Spanish Crown. As the family moved through the 1700s, they became part of the social fabric of southern Spain, contributing to the development of local communities through their work and civic participation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
subtus
Latin term meaning below or underneath.
This name
SottoA topographic surname for someone who lived at the foot of a hill or below a specific landmark.
also spelled
Zoto
Sotto
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
García Carraffa, Alberto y Arturo. Enciclopedia heráldica y genealógica hispano-americana. 1919
Moll, Francesc de Borja. Els llinatges catalans. 1959
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.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
