A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vilches family of Spain.
Reg. 6857 · Spanish, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un soleil de huit rais ondoyants d'or, acc. de huit étoiles (8) d'arg., placées entre les rais; le corps du soleil caché par un besant-tourteau parti de gu. et d'arg. et bordé d'or, le gu. ch. d'une tour d'or, sommée de trois tourelles du même, ouv. et aj. d'azur, et l'arg. ch. d'un lion de gu.”
AndalusiaAndalusia, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Vilches arms are recorded
The Vilches arms were recorded in Andalusia, c. 1722.
Andalusia was the last part of Spain taken back from the Moors, and the land was shared out among the men who took it. A grant of land came with a grant of arms, so the region produced a great many.
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 Vilches 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 Andalusia.
Origin & History of the Vilches Family in Spain
The surname Vilches is a topographic name that originated from the town of Vilches, located in the province of Jaén within the Andalusia region of Spain. During the medieval period, it was common for families to adopt the name of their home village as a way to identify their origins when they moved to new areas. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the Vilches family were well-established residents of Andalusia, living in a society deeply influenced by the agricultural and cultural traditions of the southern Spanish landscape. As the family grew and spread throughout the region, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral connection to this specific geographic location. The history of the name reflects the broader movement of people across the Iberian Peninsula, where local identities were tied closely to the land and the specific towns where families first built their lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Villa
Latin term for a country house, farm, or small settlement.
This name
VilchesA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a small village or farmstead.
also spelled
Vilches
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1996
Archivo Histórico Diocesano de Jaén, Libros de Bautismos y Matrimonios, 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
