A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clerval family of France.
Reg. 1263 · 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., ch. de trois merlettes de sa. et acc. en chef d'un lion léopardé du même.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Clerval Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Clerval arms are recorded
The Clerval arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Clerval 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Clerval Family in France
The name Clerval originates from the historical region of Normandy in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within this coastal province. The name itself is topographical, meaning it was likely derived from the landscape where the family lived. In the French language, the name combines elements that suggest a clear or bright valley. During the seventeenth century, families in Normandy were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. As the region experienced shifts in population and social structure, the Clerval family remained part of the local fabric of the province. Their presence in the area during this period reflects the broader history of Norman families who built their lives in the fertile valleys of northern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clair Val
Bright or clear valley
This name
ClervalA topographic surname referring to someone who lived in a bright or clear valley.
also spelled
Clervalle
Related arms
Nicolas des Champgéraultsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
