A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Zambrano family of Spain.
Reg. 5355 · Spanish
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à une tour de deux étages d'arg., accostée en chef de deux étoiles (8) du même; à la bord. d'azur, ch. de huit flanchis d'or (La branche de Murcie porte les flanchis d'arg. et la tour iss. d'une mer d'azur agitée d'arg.)”
CastileEstrémadure · Castile, c. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Zambrano arms are recorded
The Zambrano 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 Zambrano 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 Zambrano Family in Spain
The surname Zambrano finds its deep roots in the historical region of Castile, Spain, where families bearing the name were well-established by the early 18th century. Etymologists often link the name to the Spanish word "zambrano," which historically referred to a type of coarse fabric or a specific garment worn by laborers in rural areas. This suggests that the family’s original ancestors likely held roles in the agricultural or textile sectors of the Castilian countryside. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Spanish interior, eventually spreading across the Iberian Peninsula and later to the Americas during the colonial era. By 1722, the name was already recognized in official parish and civil records, marking the family as a stable part of the local community during a period of significant transition in Spanish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zambrana
A place name derived from the Basque word for a rocky slope.
This name
ZambranoA habitational surname referring to individuals originating from the town of Zambrana in Alava.
also spelled
Sambrana
Zambranna
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, 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
