A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blais family of France.
Reg. 5379 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à la fasce de gu., acc. de six merlettes du même.”
AnjouAnjou, c. 1663
Where the Blais Arms Were Recorded
Anjou
Map of France showing where the Blais arms are recorded
The Blais arms were recorded in Anjou, c. 1663.
Anjou was rich valley country along the Loire, with a dense scatter of small manors. Its gentry were numerous rather than wealthy, and even a modest holding was enough to justify a shield of one's own.
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 Blais 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 Anjou.
Origin & History of the Blais Family in France
The surname Blais originates from the ancient French province of Anjou, where the family was well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name itself is derived from the Latin name Blasius, which was common throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. In the context of 1663, members of the Blais family were part of a society deeply rooted in the agricultural and social traditions of the Loire Valley. As the French monarchy encouraged the expansion of its influence in North America, individuals from this region began to look toward the New World. The family name traveled across the Atlantic through early settlers who brought their ancestral customs and language to the colonies of New France, effectively planting the seeds for the name to endure for centuries in a new environment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blasius
Latin name derived from the word for stammering or lisping.
This name
BlaisA French surname originating as a nickname for someone with a speech impediment.
also spelled
Blays
Blay
Blaise
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Fonds du Conseil souverain
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
