A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alby family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9382 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois roses d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. au lion d'or.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Alby Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Alby arms are recorded
The Alby arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Alby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Alby Family in France
The family name Alby finds its historical roots in the sun-drenched region of Languedoc in southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this area, which was known for its distinct culture and strong ties to the land. The name itself is likely a topographic surname, meaning it was derived from the geographical features of the landscape or the specific town of Albi. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often deeply connected to local agricultural life or trade guilds. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Languedoc province, living through a period of significant religious and political change in the French kingdom. Their presence in these early records highlights a history rooted in the traditions and regional identity of southern France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Paly of six or and sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Alby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Alby arms are recorded
The Alby arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Alby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Alby Family in England
The surname Alby has roots that trace back to the linguistic shifts of medieval England, where it likely originated as a locational name derived from Old English or Old Norse elements. By the time the family was firmly established in the city of York in 1620, the name had already become a fixed identifier for families living in the northern regions of the country. During this era, York served as a major center for trade and administration, meaning that families like the Albys were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled craft industries that defined city life. Because the name appears in local parish registers and civic documents from the early seventeenth century, it suggests that the family was part of the stable middle class that helped maintain the social and economic fabric of the city during a period of great national change. These early records provide a clear link between the family and the urban development of York, highlighting their long-standing presence in the heart of northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Albus
Latin term meaning white or bright.
This name
AlbyDerived from a topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a white hill or stream.
also spelled
Albi
Albey
Albie
Related arms
Alcontfsimilar arms
Barbotsimilar arms
Clerc (le) - Lorrsimilar arms
Albivariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Ladurie, Emmanuel Le Roy, Les Paysans de Languedoc, 1966
Wolff, Philippe, Histoire du Languedoc, 1967
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
