House of Sousa

Coat of Arms of House of Sousa

The House of Sousa is a noble family of Portugal, descendants of the marriage of Martim Afonso Chichorro and Ines Lorenzo de Sousa.

The House of Souza is one of the eldest and nobler houses of Portugal. Its origin starts with the Goth Kings and the name was first used in the 11th century, by Lord Egas Gomes de Sousa, heir to the house and to several royal lineages. There are three main lineages of this noble house, but we shall only focus on the one represented to left (Sousa of Arronches).

The field of the shield is divided in four quarters (quarterly or party per cross) with the Royal Arms of Portugal in the first and fourth quarters, and the Ancient Arms of Sousa, a quartet of silver crescents (Argent) over a field of red (Gules), in the second and third quarters. This grouping known as the Souza of Arronches (because of the title of Lords of Arronches), is still borne by many of the noble houses of Portugal, like the Dukes of Palmela.

The Head of the House of Sousa today is the Duke of Lafões. Some say that there isn't a single noble man (or woman) in Portugal that does not have the blood of the Sousas.The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Garcia Homem de Sousa, which was dated 1420, christened at Funchal, Portugal, during the reign of King John 1 of Portugal, 1385 - 1433. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The family motto (Better to break than to bend).

Lords of the House of Sousa

Coat of Arms

Primitive Coat of Arms of Sousas

Coat of Arms of Family Sousa

References