A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baral family of France.
cupFaith, office, and a trust dischargedJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à trois barillets d'or.”
The Baral arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he 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.
Reigning in France when the Baral arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Baral has deep roots in the northern regions of France, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the province of Picardie as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Picardie was a vital agricultural and strategic hub, and families living there were often tied to the land or local trade guilds. The name itself is thought to be derived from Old French or Germanic linguistic roots, potentially relating to the word for a barrel or a container, which suggests that early ancestors may have been skilled craftsmen, merchants, or vintners. As the family established themselves in this region, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant transition in French history. Over the following generations, the Baral name persisted through the shifting political landscapes of the region, reflecting the resilience of families who maintained their identity in rural and provincial settings.
A Celtic or Gaulish term referring to a summit or height.
