A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ault family of France.
Reg. 3349 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'azur la croix ancrée d'or, acc. de trois croiss. d'arg.; au 2 cinq points d'azur, équipollés à quatre d'arg.; au 3 d'or à trois chev. de gu.; au 4 d'arg. à la croix de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Ault Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Ault arms are recorded
The Ault arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Ault 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 France.
Origin & History of the Ault Family in France
The family name Ault carries a rich history that traces back to the coastal regions of northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established in the province of Bretagne. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rugged landscape and the maritime culture of the Atlantic coast. Families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit communities where they worked as skilled laborers or farmers. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Ault name became a fixture in local parish registers, which tracked births, marriages, and deaths within the community. These early ancestors were part of a resilient population that navigated the complex social and economic changes of the French countryside during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
altus
Latin term meaning high, deep, or noble.
This name
AultA topographic name for someone who lived on high ground or a cliff.
also spelled
Aulte
Aults
Alt
Olt
Related arms
Altvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
