A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alés family of France.
Reg. 7704 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à deux demi-vols de gu.; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un soleil du champ. L'écu entouré d'une bord. du sec., ch. de huit bes. du premier.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Alés Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Alés arms are recorded
The Alés 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 Alés 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 Alés Family in France
The family name Alés traces its historical roots to the Languedoc region of southern France, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the geography of the area, as it likely originated from the town of Alès located at the foothills of the Cévennes mountains. Families living in this part of France often adopted names linked to their local landscape or specific settlements to distinguish themselves within their communities. In the seventeenth century, the region was a center for agricultural trade and religious change, which shaped the daily lives of those bearing the name. By establishing themselves in Languedoc, the early Alés family became part of a long tradition of regional identity that defined the social structure of southern France for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alis
Derived from the Germanic name Adalheidis meaning noble kind.
This name
AlésA habitational name referring to someone from the town of Alès in Gard.
also spelled
Alez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Gard, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Pégot-Ogier, Roger, Histoire du Languedoc, 1965
Wolff, Philippe, Histoire du Languedoc, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
