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)“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une tour sommée d'une tourelle d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 vairé d'or et de sin.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vigil family of Spain.
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 gu. à une tour sommée d'une tourelle d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 vairé d'or et de sin.”

The Vigil arms were recorded in Asturies, c. 1722.
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 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.
The surname Vigil finds its deep historical roots in the northern region of Asturias, Spain. By the early eighteenth century, the family was well-established in this rugged, mountainous landscape, which played a crucial role in shaping their identity. The name itself is derived from the Latin word "vigilis," meaning watchful or alert, suggesting that early ancestors may have held positions of responsibility or served as guards within their local communities. During the year 1722, records confirm that members of the Vigil family were active participants in the social and administrative life of the Asturian province. Their presence in this region reflects a long tradition of families who were deeply connected to the land and the evolving governance of northern Spain during the early modern period.
Latin term meaning watchful, alert, or awake.