A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Valtierra family of France.
Reg. 5005 · French, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sin. à cinq fleurs-de-lis d'or, 2, 1 et 2; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois bandes d'azur. L'écu entouré d'une bord. de gu., ch. de huit étoiles (8) d'or.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Valtierra arms are recorded
The Valtierra arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Valtierra arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Valtierra Family in France
The family name Valtierra originates from the northern region of Navarre in Spain. Historical records confirm that members of the family were well established in this area by 1663. The name itself is locative, meaning it was likely adopted by people who lived in or near a place called Valtierra. This town is situated in the Ribera region of Navarre, a landscape defined by the Ebro River and a long history of agricultural development. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the land and local parish communities. As the family grew, individuals moved throughout the Iberian Peninsula, carrying the name from its roots in the Navarrese countryside into broader Spanish society. This transition from a specific geographic location to a hereditary surname reflects the way many families identified themselves during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Valle Terra
Latin terms for valley and earth or land.
This name
ValtierraRefers to a person who lived in a valley or on a specific piece of land.
also spelled
Valtierre
Valtierr
Valtyera
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo General de Navarra, Sección de Protocolos Notariales
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los nombres de los pueblos, villas y ciudades de Navarra, 1999
José María Jimeno Jurío, Toponimia navarra: Merindad de Tudela, 1994
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
