A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blois family of England.
Reg. 4404 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
vairProtection, and the winter fur
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a bend vair betw. two fleurs-de-lis ar”
SuffolkCockfield Hall · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Blois Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Blois arms are recorded
The Blois arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 England when the Blois 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Blois Family in England
The surname Blois originates from a place name in France, specifically the city of Blois located in the Loire Valley. During the medieval period, individuals often adopted the names of their home towns as surnames when they moved to new regions. By the early 17th century, members of the Blois family had established a significant presence in the county of Suffolk, England. Records show that they were well-integrated into the local community by 1620, particularly within the area around Ipswich and Grundisburgh. The family became prominent landowners in this region, playing active roles in local administration and social life during the Stuart era. Their transition from continental origins to becoming established members of the English gentry highlights the movement of families across Europe during the centuries following the Norman Conquest.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
blavus
A Latin term meaning yellow or fair-haired.
This name
BloisDerived from the French town of Blois, originally denoting a person with fair or yellowish hair.
also spelled
Bloys
Bloyes
Related arms
Bloysvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Copinger, Walter Arthur, The Manors of Suffolk: Notes on their History and Devolution, 1905
Page, William, The Victoria History of the County of Suffolk, 1911
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Branch, Parish Registers of Grundisburgh, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
