Map of Spain showing where the Valcárcel arms are recorded
The Valcárcel arms were recorded in Castile, c. 1722.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Valcárcel 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 Castile.
Origin & History of the Valcárcel Family in Spain
The Valcárcel family name finds its historical roots in the rugged landscapes of northern Spain, particularly within the region of Castile. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in this area, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in Castile by 1722. The name itself is topographic in nature, likely derived from a combination of words describing a valley or a specific enclosure. Families during this period often settled in rural communities where they played active roles in local agriculture and regional administration. As the family grew, members spread across the Iberian Peninsula, maintaining their connection to the Castilian heartland while adapting to the social and economic changes of the Spanish Enlightenment. This history reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the administrative and cultural identity of rural Spain during the 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Valcárcel
Derived from the Latin vallis carceris meaning valley of the prison.
This name
ValcárcelA topographic surname referring to someone who lived in a valley containing a prison or fortress.
also spelled
Valkarsel
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
Faure, Roberto, Diccionario de apellidos españoles, 2001
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte
Archivo Histórico Nacional, Sección Nobleza
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
branchPeace, and new growth
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
branchPeace, and new growth
