A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bally family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5294 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'azur, acc. en chef de trois mouchetures d'herm. rangées de sa. et en p. d'une tête de léopard de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bally Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bally arms are recorded
The Bally arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Bally arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Bally Family in Germany
The family name Bally has deep roots in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the middle of the eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this area. During this time, Bavaria was a collection of territories defined by agricultural traditions and a strong connection to the Catholic Church. Families like the Ballys often lived in small, tight-knit communities where their surname likely evolved from a local nickname or a reference to a specific geographic feature in the countryside. As the region underwent shifts in governance and social structure during the late 1700s, the family remained part of the local fabric, contributing to the growth of Bavarian village life. Their presence in 1765 serves as a clear marker of a lineage that was deeply integrated into the cultural and social development of the German states long before the modern era of industrialization.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Per chev. ar. and az. in chief two acorns vert and in base a demi griffin of the first”
SomersetBath · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Bally Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Bally arms are recorded
The Bally arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Germany when the Bally 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Bally Family in England
The family name Bally has deep roots in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During this period, the name was likely linked to the local landscape or the specific occupations of those living in the rural parishes of the West Country. Many families in Somerset at this time were involved in the thriving wool trade or small-scale agriculture, which defined the daily lives of local residents. As the name appeared in parish registers and legal documents of the early seventeenth century, it became a permanent part of the regional identity. The presence of the Bally family in this area suggests they were part of the stable, land-holding or laboring classes that helped build the social fabric of early modern England. By keeping consistent records in local churches, these early ancestors ensured that their family history remained tied to the specific geography and community life of the Somerset countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ball
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for a ball.
This name
BallyA topographic name for someone living near a rounded hill or a nickname for a rotund person.
also spelled
Ballie
Balley
Baly
Bailey
Ballee
Related arms
Balleyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
