Some of just a few...





Above are just a few coat of arms that I have found. If you're wondering as to which one is the real or true coat of arms, read on and enjoy the one that you have displayed in your home.

Heraldry is a very old graphic language that was originally used to identify men-at arms (warriors). In the heat of battle it's often difficult to identify friend from foe. So, warriors began to wear a visual indicator to identify themselves, much as soldiers (warriors) today wear different or distinctive uniforms and visual graphics on their uniforms, air-planes, armored vehicles and naval vessels. The ancient warrior first wore his identification color and/or symbol on his shield and later on the surcoat over his armor - hence the term Coat of Arms. After a time, flags, banners, and horse blankets began to carry the warrior's identifying colors and symbols. Although the rules of heraldry varied from country to country and from time to time, the following rules to European heraldry may be used as a guide. All family members wore the same coat of arms as the father. Small changes were made to show gender and to show the persons relationship within the family. The change might be in the design and/or the colors used. Thus, the coats of arms were passed down from one generation to another. An unmarried woman wore the family coat of arms but the shield was diamond shaped. Once married, a married woman wore the coat of arms of her husband or a new coat was designed with elements of both families. Heralds kept the records of the family coats of arms. The College of Arms collected the records containing the family histories and the designs of the coats of arms. In this way heraldry and genealogy (the study of family relationships) are inter-related. Heraldic markings have also been used to identify the personal belongings and property of individuals or of families.

HISTORY OF THE LAST NAME
GARZA: This is one of the oldest last names in Spain, although only about 7 families have the last name of Garza in Madrid. Originally from the Northwest in the village of San Juan de Tor in the province of Lugo. This family was very noble and powerful. They had a tower called "Torre de los Garza" from which they established their civil and criminal law, with a hangman's rope in the field next to the tower. The tower was destroyed by the Hernandinos  ( a rival family) and the famous knight Pedro Garza de Castrillon was killed. It was rebuilt, burned by the French in the early 1800's and built again where it stands to this day. Garza is an interesting name found typically in Northern Mexico, highly concentrated in Leon and Tamulipas, Texas and other places with heavy Northern immigration like Chicago, and very unknown in the rest of the country. As soon as you move west of Laredo it is practically unknown. In Los Angeles or El Paso it a rare last name. (sent via email by Tia Edna Sanchez)