Mendes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Mendes comes from Spain, a country rich in culture and history. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother’s given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. Some names are derived from the saints of the Christian Church, but many Spanish surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. The Visigoths, who ruled Spain between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries had a profound impact on the development of surnames.

Early Origins of the Mendes family

The surname Mendes was first found in Asturias, birthplace of the Reconquest.

The first record of the family was Gutier Menéndez (c. 865 – 934), the most powerful Galician magnate of his time in the Kingdom of León. He was related to the royal family through marriages and acted as a powerbroker in the civil wars that followed the disputed succession of 925. His brother-in-law was Ordoño II, king of Galicia from 910 and then of León from 914 until his death in 924. In his will, Gutier says that during his career he obtained wealth through “royal grants, booty in war and other means” in addition to the wealth that he had inherited. His brother was Count Arias Menendez and one of the count’s daughter Elvira Arias, married her cousin Muio (fl. 911-955.)