A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balland family of France.
Reg. 0714 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au balancier d'or, acc. de trois étoiles d'arg., 1 en chef et 2 en flancs, et d'un croiss. du même en p. [V. Balan.]”
SavoySavoy, c. 1663
Where the Balland Arms Were Recorded
Savoy
Map of France showing where the Balland arms are recorded
The Balland arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields 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 Balland 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Balland Family in France
The surname Balland finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Savoy region. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within these alpine communities. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, potentially serving as a descriptive term for individuals who lived near specific geographic landmarks or worked in traditional mountain trades. During the seventeenth century, life in Savoy was defined by the transition between local feudal customs and the growing influence of the Duchy of Savoy. Families like the Ballands were typically integrated into the agrarian structure of the region, where they managed land and participated in the tight-knit social networks of high-altitude villages. This early presence in the heart of the Alps suggests that the family was deeply connected to the distinct cultural and economic development of the Savoyard people during a period of significant regional change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ballo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for dance or ball.
This name
BallandA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Ballo.
also spelled
Balande
Baland
Ballande
Related arms
Balandvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, Série B: Cours et juridictions (1663)
Bouchage, Honoré, Histoire de la vallée de Maurienne, 1880
Gautier, Adolphe, Les noms de famille en Savoie, 1905
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
