A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barral family of France.
Reg. 4884 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois barils de sa., liés et bondonnés d'arg.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Barral Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Barral arms are recorded
The Barral arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Barral 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Barral Family in France
The family name Barral traces its deep roots to the mountainous region of Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were already well-established within the local social fabric of the area. The name itself is thought to derive from the Old Occitan word barral, which referred to a wooden barrel or a container used for storing wine and oil. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely worked as skilled craftsmen, such as coopers or merchants, who played a vital role in the regional economy. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the rugged landscape of the Alps, where they lived as farmers and landowners for many generations. Their presence in Dauphiné during the seventeenth century highlights a long history of stability and community involvement in a region known for its distinct cultural traditions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barra
A Celtic or Gaulish term referring to a summit or height.
This name
BarralA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent hill or mountain peak.
also spelled
Barrall
Barrale
Baral
Related arms
Baralvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Chorier, Nicolas. Histoire générale de Dauphiné. 1661–1672
Archives départementales de l'Isère. Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
