Mexican heraldry (in Spanish: "Heráldica Mexicana"), has no precise rules, because its evolution has been according to the ideas and prevailing customs of every time of its history.

Mexico

Mexican heraldry is based on ancestral symbology which are still venerated by descendants in Mexico. The system of

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vi ...

ing arms that is used in European countries today was developed by the officers of arms in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

. This includes a stylized description of the escutcheon (shield), the

crest Crest or CREST may refer to: Buildings *The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York *"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York *Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...

, and, if present, supporters,

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

es, and other insignia. Certain rules apply, such as the rule of tincture, and a thorough understanding of these rules is a key to the art of heraldry. This system was adapted to Mexican society by incorporating flora and fauna native to Mexico. Another conspicuous difference between Mexican heraldry and European heraldry is the absence of a

helm Helm may refer to: Common meanings * a ship's steering mechanism; see tiller and ship's wheel * another term for helmsman * an archaic term for a helmet, used as armor Arts and entertainment * Matt Helm, a character created by Donald Hamilton * ...

surmounting the shield. Most traditions of Mexican heraldry came from Iberian origin from regions in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

, predominating heraldry of Castilian, Basque or Galician, in second place heraldry of Catalan and Valencian origin. Other common heraldic traditions in Mexico came from French,

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

origins. The most recent heraldic influences, since 1943, are of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

origin.

Spanish origins

The descent of Spanish arms and titles differs from much of Europe in that they can be inherited through females. Also,

illegitimacy Legitimacy, in traditional Western common law, is the status of a child born to parents who are legally married to each other, and of a child conceived before the parents obtain a legal divorce. Conversely, ''illegitimacy'', also known as '' ...

did not prevent the descent of arms and titles. The great Spanish families believed that a family pedigree could be more damaged by misalliance than by illegitimacy. Indeed, the patents of nobility of many Spanish families contained bequeathals to illegitimate branches in case no legitimate heirs were found. Illegitimacy in Spain was divided into three categories. # Natural children; Those born of single or widowed parents who could be legitimized by the marriage of their parents or by a declaration by their father that they were his heirs. # Spurious children; Those whose parents were not in a position to marry. These children had to be legitimized by a petition of royal

ratification Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent that lacked the authority to bind the principal legally. Ratification defines the international act in which a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties inte ...

. # Incestuous children; Those born of parents too closely related to marry or who were under a religious vow. These ''hijos'' required a

papal dispensation In the jurisprudence of the canon law of the Catholic Church, a dispensation is the exemption from the immediate obligation of law in certain cases.The Law of Christ Vol. I, pg. 284 Its object is to modify the hardship often arising from the ...

in order to inherit their parent's arms or property. These papal dispensations were granted so often that every

diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associa ...

had signed blanks ready to affix the appropriate name.

External links

surnames.org/

{{Heraldry by country Heraldry by country

Mexico

Spanish origins

See also

External links