Map of Portugal showing where the Tavera arms are recorded
The Tavera 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 Tavera 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 Tavera Family in Portugal
The Tavera family name carries deep roots that connect to the complex social landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. By the early eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of Lisboa. During this era, the city served as a vibrant hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the center of a rapidly changing Portuguese society. The name itself is often linked to geographical origins, potentially referencing specific lands or settlements that early ancestors called home. As the family navigated the challenges of life in the capital during the year 1706, they became part of the urban fabric that defined the growth and development of the city. Their presence in official documents from this period suggests they were active participants in the local community, contributing to the cultural and economic life of the region during a time of significant historical transition.
Tavera Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Taberna
Latin term for a shop, hut, or tavern.
This name
TaveraA topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a tavern or shop.
also spelled
Taveyra
Taveir
Taveirra
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo, Registos Paroquiais de Lisboa (Século XVIII)
Freire, Anselmo Braamcamp, Brasões da Sala de Sintra (1921). (Note: While this text discusses noble families, it provides essential genealogical context for the period)
Mattoso, José, Identificação de um País: Ensaio sobre as origens de Portugal (1985)
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
