A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balay family of France.
Reg. 5892 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un palmier d'or, sur une terrasse de sa.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Balay Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Balay arms are recorded
The Balay arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Balay 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Balay Family in France
The family name Balay has deep roots in the Bourgogne region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the social structures of the French countryside. Families like the Balays often lived in small village communities where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople. Because the name likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames related to a person’s occupation or physical traits, it became a stable identifier for those living in the eastern provinces. By the mid-17th century, the family was already part of the local fabric of Bourgogne, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the region long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Balaire
Derived from the Old French word for a bale or bundle.
This name
BalayAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a packer or baler of goods.
also spelled
Ballay
Related arms
Balaivariant spelling
Ballayvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1663)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France (1951)
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille (1991)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
