Map of Portugal showing where the Tavares arms are recorded
The Tavares arms were recorded in Portugal, c. 1706.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Lisboa.
Lisbon was the seat of the Portuguese crown and the port its wealth came through. Families made rich by trade and by service to the king took arms, and the crown's heralds recorded them there.
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 Portugal in this period.
Peter II of Portugal
Sovereign of the period
Peter II of Portugal
1683–1706
Reigning in Portugal when the Tavares arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Portugal
In Portugal, a coat of arms was a family possession that passed from a father to his children. Every legitimate descendant had the right to use the family shield without needing to change it. Younger branches of the family kept the original design, though they sometimes added small symbols to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
The Cartório da Nobreza acted as the official body that managed and regulated noble titles and coats of arms in Portugal.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms through bloodline, though they could also receive new grants from the crown for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the books of the Cartório da Nobreza starting in the year 1512.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Portugal.
Origin & History of the Tavares Family in Portugal
The surname Tavares is deeply rooted in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, with its origins linked to the ancient regions of Galicia and northern Portugal. The name is often classified as a topographic surname, meaning it likely described a family that lived near a specific landmark or a place known as Tabares. By the early 18th century, the family had established a significant presence in the bustling capital of Lisboa. Records from 1706 show that members of the Tavares family were active participants in the social and economic life of the city during a time when Portugal was expanding its influence through global trade. As the family grew, they integrated into various levels of society, contributing to the administrative and cultural development of the Portuguese capital. This transition from regional roots to the heart of the kingdom highlights the family's ability to adapt and thrive within the changing landscape of early modern Portugal.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Taberna
Latin term referring to a shop, tavern, or wooden hut.
This name
TavaresA topographic surname for someone who lived near or worked at a tavern.
also spelled
Tavarez
Tavarres
Tavaris
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pimpão, Álvaro Júlio da Costa, Dicionário de Nomes e Sobrenomes, 1998
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de, Archivo Heráldico-Genealógico, 1872
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais da Cidade de Lisboa, 1706
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
