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)“De gu. au lion d'or, ch. de trois fasces d'azur. C.: le lion.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Valiente family of Portugal.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'or, ch. de trois fasces d'azur. C.: le lion.”

The Valiente 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 Valiente carries a strong meaning, as it is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word for brave or courageous. While the name is often associated with the Iberian Peninsula, its presence in Lisboa by 1706 suggests that the family was well-established in the capital of Portugal during a period of significant urban growth. During the early 18th century, families in Lisboa were often deeply connected to the city’s bustling trade networks and the administrative life of the Portuguese Empire. Members of the Valiente family likely lived through the vibrant cultural shifts of the late Baroque era, a time when the city was a major hub for merchants, artisans, and sailors. By settling in such a prominent port city, the family became part of a diverse social fabric that defined the history of Portugal before the devastating earthquake of 1755 changed the landscape of the capital forever.
Latin verb meaning to be strong, healthy, or powerful.
