A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Auvray family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5102 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 à un bouclier d'or, ch. d'un écusson d'azur, inscrit du chiffre 40 d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à une clé d'arg., en pal; au 4 d'azur à un olivier d'or, fruité d'arg.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Auvray Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Auvray arms are recorded
The Auvray arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Auvray arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Auvray Family in Belgium
The family name Auvray carries deep roots that trace back to the historical region of Brabant, where members of the family were firmly established by 1737. The name itself is of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient elements *adal*, meaning noble, and *hraban*, meaning raven. As the family settled into the social landscape of what is now Belgium, they became part of the local fabric during a time of significant administrative and economic change under the Austrian Netherlands. By the mid-18th century, records indicate that the Auvray family was integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural or trade-based economy that defined the Brabant region. Their presence in official documents from this era suggests they were part of a growing middle class that helped shape the local culture and civic life of the period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Losangé d'or et d'azur.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Auvray Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Auvray arms are recorded
The Auvray arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Belgium when the Auvray 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Auvray Family in France
The family name Auvray finds its deepest roots in the northern regions of France, particularly within the historic province of Normandy. The name itself is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Alberic, which evolved through local dialects into the form we recognize today. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the Auvray family was well-established in the Norman countryside, where they lived as part of the rural society that defined the region. Records from 1663 confirm their presence in these lands, placing them in a time of significant transition for France as the monarchy consolidated power. During this era, families like the Auvrays were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade, contributing to the distinct cultural identity of the Norman people. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who helped build the foundations of local communities long before the modern era of record-keeping became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Albericus
A Germanic compound meaning elf or supernatural being and ruler.
This name
AuvrayDerived from a Germanic personal name signifying a ruler of the elves.
also spelled
Auvrai
Auvrey
Ovray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: State Archives in Belgium (Algemeen Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Archives: State Archives in Belgium (Algemeen Rijksarchief), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
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