The official name of the town is Bilbao, as known in most languages of the world.

 Euskaltzaindia, the
official regulatory institution of the Basque language, has agreed that between the two possible
names existing in Basque, Bilbao and Bilbo, the historical name is Bilbo, while Bilbao is the official
name.[23] Although the term Bilbo does not appear in old documents, in the play The Merry Wives of
Windsor by William Shakespeare, there is a reference to swords presumably made of Biscayan iron
which he calls "bilboes", suggesting that it is a word used since at least the sixteenth century. [24][25][26][27]
There is no consensus among historians about the origin of the name. Generally accepted accounts
state that prior to the 12th century the independent rulers of the territory, named Lords of Zubialdea,
were also known as Lords of Bilbao la Vieja ("Old Bilbao"). The symbols of their patrimony are the
tower and church used in the shield of Bilbao to this day. [28] One possible origin was suggested by the
engineer Evaristo de Churruca. He said that it was a Basque custom to name a place after its
location. For Bilbao this would be the result of the union of the Basque words for river and cove: Bil-
Ibaia-Bao.[29] The historian José Tussel Gómez argues that it is just a natural evolution of the Spanish
words bello vado, beautiful river crossing.[30] On the other hand, according to the writer Esteban Calle
Iturrino, the name derives from the two settlements that existed on both banks of the estuary, rather
than from the estuary itself. The first, where the present Casco Viejo is located, would be called billa,
which means stacking in Basque, after the configuration of the buildings. The second, on the left
bank, where now Bilbao La Vieja is located, would be called vaho, Spanish for mist or steam. From
the union of these two derives the name Bilbao,[29] which was also written as Bilvao and Biluao, as
documented in its municipal charter.[31] An -ao ending is also present in nearby Sestao and Ugao, that
could be explained from Basque aho, "mouth".

Demonym[edit]
The demonym is "bilbaíno, -a", although the popular pronunciation bilbaino/a (sic) is also frequent.
[32]
 In euskera it is bilbotar, which is sometimes also used in Spanish, generally within the Basque
Country.[33] The village is affectionately known by its inhabitants as the botxo meaning hole, since it is
surrounded by mountains.[34] The nickname "botxero" is derived from this nickname. Another
nickname that Bilbao receives is that of "chimbos", which comes from birds that were hunted in large
numbers in these places during the 19th century.[35]
The titles, the flag and the coat of arms are Bilbao's traditional symbols and belong to its historic
patrimony, being used in formal acts, for the identification and decoration of specific places or for the
validation of documents.
Titles
Bilbao holds the historic category of township (villa), with the titles of "Very noble and very loyal and
unbeaten" ("Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta"). It was the Catholic Monarchs who awarded the title
"Noble Town" ("Noble Villa") on 20 September 1475. Philip III of Spain, via a letter in 1603 awarded
the town the titles of "Very noble and very loyal". [36] After the Siege of Bilbao, during the First Carlist
War, on 25 December 1836, the title of "Unbeaten" was added. [37]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Bilbao

The coat of arms is emblazoned as follows:

In a silver field a bridge with two eyes, added to the church of San Antón of its color and to its sinister
two sable wolves walking and in stick, on waves of azure and silver. [38]
Flag
The flag that represents it is white with a red block, in a ratio of three parts long by two wide. The
colors red and white are the historical ones of the villa.
The Royal Order of 30 July 1845 determined the maritime password for the population. This was
defined as a white flag with an upper red die next to the pod. The die should be square and the
length of its side should equal half of the pod. Previously, at least since 1511, the banner that
the Bilbao Consulate was wearing was white with a red Cross of Burgundy. The relationship of the
town with the mercantile and marine activities was always very strong coming to share headquarters.
In 1603 the new consistorial house is inaugurated and in it the headquarters of the city council and of
the referred one Bilbao Consulate are located. The intimate relationship made the flag of the
Consulate was related as a flag of the town by citizenship.
The definition of the maritime flag in 1845 was assumed by the population, who accepted it as their
own, and so did the city council. At the inauguration of the Bilbao-Miranda de Ebro railway line, it was
already used as a symbol of the town's representation, being permanently adopted in 1895 although
no resolution has been adopted for this purpose. [39]
Although it has always been assumed by the municipal institution and citizenship, at the beginning of
the 20th century it