A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Avra family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0180 · 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
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Map of Belgium showing where the Avra arms are recorded
The Avra 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 Avra 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 Avra Family in Belgium
The history of the Avra family in Belgium finds its earliest documented roots in the historic Duchy of Brabant during the year 1737. At that time, the region was a bustling center of trade and agriculture under the rule of the Austrian Netherlands. Families living in Brabant during this period were often deeply connected to the local parish system, which served as the primary way for the government to track births, marriages, and deaths. The name likely emerged within this rural or semi-urban landscape as a way to identify specific households during a time when surnames were becoming more standardized for tax and legal purposes. Because Brabant was a crossroads for merchants and travelers moving between major cities like Brussels and Leuven, the Avra family would have been part of a society that valued local land ownership and community ties. By settling in this specific region, the early members of the family became part of the long-standing cultural fabric of the Low Countries, living through the transition of power and the steady growth of the local economy throughout the eighteenth century.
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
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Map of France showing where the Avra arms are recorded
The Avra 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 Avra 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 Avra Family in France
The family name Avra traces its roots to the coastal landscapes of Normandy, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the region was defined by a mix of agricultural life and maritime trade, which likely influenced the daily activities and social standing of the family. The name itself is closely linked to the geography of the northern French coast, as it shares linguistic ties with the term for a harbor or a sheltered inlet. Families living in this area often took on names that reflected their connection to the land or their proximity to the English Channel. By settling in Normandy in the mid-seventeenth century, the early members of the Avra family became part of a resilient community that navigated the complex political and economic shifts of the French kingdom. Their history is a reflection of the local traditions and the steady development of rural life in one of France’s most historically significant provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abraham
Hebrew for father of a multitude
This name
AvraA shortened patronymic form derived from the biblical name Abraham
also spelled
Auvrai
Auvrey
Ovray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Algemeen Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Wauters, Alphonse, Histoire des environs de Bruxelles, 1855
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
