The surname Alarcón is one of the most illustrious and ancient of Spanish names.  It is of local origin , that is it derives from the place of origin of the initial bearer.  In this case , the surname derives from the town of Alarcón in Castilla La Mancha, Spain. It is recorded that the original bearer of the surname was in fact one Fernán Martin de Cevallos who in the year 1177 captured the town of Alarcón.  For his services and loyalty to King Alfonso IX , the said monarch granted him lordship over the town and from thenceforth he was referred to as Fernán Martin de Alarcón. One Martin de Alarcón, a member of the Order of Santiago, served the "Reyes Catolicos" during the reconquista, or "recon quest" , of Granada from the Moors.  One Jose de Alarcón held the position of Lord Chamberlain to Queen Maria and also to Queen Leonor ; a right he was granted by King Jose III in 1522. An early record of the surname on the American Continent is that of one Baltasar de Alarcón , born in Havana in 1675, entered the order of Santiago in 1703. Notable bearers of the surname Alarcón include Hernando de Alarcón (b. 1540) , the Spanish explorer who discovered the Colorado river , and Juan Ruiz de Alarcón y Mendoza (b. 1581 in Mexico) , one of the great literary figures of the Golden Age.  Pedro Antonio de Alarcón (1833-1891) , the Spanish writer and diplomat , was noted for his keen power of observation.  He wrote , among other novels , "El sombrero de tres picos", (The three corner hat),  and "El niño de la bola". ***** BLAZON OF ARMS :    A barry sable and argent, on a chief of the last a cross alese gules bordered or , angled with flames gules ; all within a bordure compone or and gules. CREST:                             Three ostrich plumes. ORIGIN:                            Spain