Map of Spain showing where the Zarco arms are recorded
The Zarco arms were recorded in Guipuzcoa, 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.
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 Zarco 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 Spain.
Origin & History of the Zarco Family in Spain
The surname Zarco is deeply rooted in the Basque region of northern Spain, with documented evidence placing the family in the province of Guipuzcoa by the year 1722. The name likely originates from the Basque language, where linguistic roots often describe the physical landscape or the specific characteristics of an ancestral home. During the early 18th century, families in this mountainous area were typically tied to the land through agriculture and local trade. As the Zarco family established themselves in Guipuzcoa, they became part of a society that valued community records and parish documentation. These early records help trace the movement of the family as they integrated into the social and economic life of the region during a period of transition in Spanish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zar
Basque term referring to something old or aged.
This name
ZarcoA topographic or descriptive surname likely denoting an elderly person or an ancient place.
also spelled
Zurko
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Histórico Diocesano de San Sebastián, Libros Sacramentales de la Parroquia de San Salvador de Guetaria, 1722
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los apellidos vascos, 1999
Fausto Arocena, Guipúzcoa en el siglo XVIII, 1954
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
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
