Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à la croix potencée vidée d'or. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg., accornée et onglée d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Texeira family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à la croix potencée vidée d'or. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg., accornée et onglée d'or.”

The Texeira 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.
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.
The surname Teixeira is a topographic name that originated in the northern regions of Portugal, derived from the Portuguese word *teixo*, which refers to the yew tree. In the early centuries of the kingdom, families often adopted names based on the natural landmarks or trees found on their ancestral lands. By the time members of the family were documented in Lisboa in 1706, the name had already spread from its rural roots into the urban centers of the Portuguese empire. During the eighteenth century, Lisboa was a bustling hub of trade and administration, and families like the Teixeiras were often part of the growing professional or merchant classes that helped sustain the city. Their presence in the capital during this era suggests a transition from local landholders to citizens integrated into the broader social and economic life of the Portuguese nation.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à l'aigle de pourpre; aux 2 et 3 échiq. d'or et de sa., de seize points. L'écu entouré d'une bord. de gu., ch. de huit S d'arg. C.: cinq pl. d'aut. de sa., d'or, de gu., d'arg. et de sa. L.: à dextre d'or, de gu. et de sa.; à sen. d'arg., de gu. et de sa. [V. Sampayo.]”

The Texeira arms were recorded in Amsterdam, c. 1815.
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.
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
The history of the Texeira family in the Netherlands is deeply connected to the vibrant trade and migration patterns of the early nineteenth century. By 1815, members of the family were firmly established in Amsterdam, a city that served as a major global hub for commerce and cultural exchange. During this period, the family name became associated with the city's growing merchant class, as many individuals with this surname participated in the economic recovery that followed the Napoleonic Wars. The presence of the Texeira family in Amsterdam reflects a broader trend of families moving to the Netherlands to seek new opportunities in finance and international shipping. As they integrated into Dutch society, they contributed to the urban development of the capital while maintaining the distinct identity associated with their name. Their documented presence in 1815 provides a clear starting point for tracing how the family adapted to the social and economic shifts occurring in the Netherlands during the nineteenth century.
Latin term for the yew tree.