Aguirre Coat of Arms, Family Crest

http://www.houseofnames.com/coatofarms_details.asp?sId=&s=Aguirre
The word Aguirre means a high place overlooking a field. There are many lineages of this name whose origins are so old that there is no way to connect them in terms of documents.

Some historians claim that the oldest manorial house of Aguirre was the one established in Bermeo, Guernica, Vizcaya, Spain. Others claim that Juan de Aguirre, Ensign to the King Don Sancho, the Wise established the first manorial house, in Navarra in the year 1200. Yet other historians claim that the first Aguirre manorial house was in Guipuzcoa, and its men served the King Ramiro I in the battle of Clavijo in the 800's.

With all these different opinions it would be impossible to determine if there is a common lineage to all the Aguirre families.

Aguirre is a surname well established in the region of Vizcaya and Guipuzcoa as a family name of recognized Hidalguia (non-titled nobility). In order to understand the significance of this nobility the origins and conditions will be explained.

Hidalguia is the name of the first nobility in all of Europe, and it is exclusively a Spanish tradition. The word comes from the phrase "hijo de alguien" which means son of someone, meaning someone important or honored.

Its origins date to the 8th century, when the King of Castilla started the war to reconquer the south part of Spain, which had been invaded by the Moors. This was such a massive effort that the King offered the men of the north of Spain the condition of nobility with the privileges of not paying taxes to the crown, being able to own more land than others, and being able to set up town and regional governments headed by themselves. The areas involved in the war effort were the regions of Galicia, Leon, Burgos, Santander, Asturias, Navarra, Vizcaya, Aragon and Cataluna, all located in the north of Spain, which geographically are set apart from the rest of Spain by mountain ranges.

Since this war lasted seven centuries, the style of life of the men in the northern parts of Spain revolved around the bravery of going to war and the opportunity of becoming a noble recognized by the King. Once the war was won the condition of nobility was so much a part of the people that it was never lost. The hidalgos took over the government of their towns and provinces and they were proud to pass on to their sons and daughters this condition of nobility. Hidalguia was inherited by all offspring of the marriage, unlike the titled nobility that goes to only one of them.

The Aguirre families have more than enough proof of their contribution to the reconquest of Spain from the Moors and throughout the centuries has had many individuals bearing this surname serving the King in many capacities. Many men have been honored with the knighthood of Military Orders, like the Order of Santiago, Carlos III, Calatrava, etc. Many of them have proved their Hidalguia in many chanceries, including Juan Antonio de Aguirre y Leguina, who made this proof in 1772 at the chancery of Guernica. The reason for his proof was that he was establishing residence in Astillero de Guarnizo and since his father and grandfather had moved to different towns in their respective lives, no one knew Juan Antonio and he needed to prove to the city of Astillero that he was a legitimate son of Hidalgos originally from Arrigorriaga, a legendary seat of the Aguirre lineage.

One of the privileges that an hidalgo had was that he was granted the license to have a coat of arms. The Aguirre family of Arrigorriaga has always used the coat of arms with a gold background, with a tower of stones on the top half, and silver background with a green treee and two wolves walking in front, one on each side of the tree.

- Thanks to jgauirre. :)