Map of France showing where the Bal arms are recorded
The Bal arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Bal 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Bal Family in France
The surname Bal has deep roots in the historical province of Lyonnais, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic fabric of the region surrounding the city of Lyon. Families in this area often derived their names from local geography, nicknames, or specific trades that defined their daily lives. In the seventeenth century, the Lyonnais region was a major center for commerce and textile production, which likely influenced the movement and growth of the family. Members of the Bal family were part of a society transitioning through the reign of Louis XIV, a time when local parish registers became the primary way to track the lives of common citizens. By documenting births, marriages, and deaths in local churches, these early ancestors helped preserve the identity of the family name within the administrative records of the French kingdom.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. on a chev. betw. three wolves' heads erased ar”
Englandc. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Bal arms are recorded
The Bal 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 Bal 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 Bal Family in England
The family name Bal has roots that stretch back into the social landscape of seventeenth-century England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the historic city of York by 1620. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, attracting families who often worked as skilled artisans or merchants. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer occupational title, which was a common practice for families living in growing urban centers at the time. As these early ancestors established themselves in the city, they became part of the local parish life and the developing economy of the region. By settling in a place as significant as York, the Bal family participated in the steady growth of English society during the early modern era, leaving behind traces in local administrative records that highlight their presence long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bale
Old French term for a bale or bundle of goods.
This name
BalOccupational surname for a merchant or trader who dealt in bundled merchandise.
also spelled
Beall
Beale
Beel
Bealle
Related arms
Kemperecorded with Bal, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Collection communale)
Bouchary, Jean, Les manieurs d'argent à Paris au XVIIIe siècle, 1939
Fournier, Gabriel, La vie rurale en France au Moyen Âge et à l'époque moderne, 1976
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
