A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Lys family of France.
Reg. 3339 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Palé d'arg. et d'azur; à la fasce d'or, br. sur le tout.”
FranceAngl, c. 1663
Where the de Lys Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the de Lys arms are recorded
The de Lys arms were recorded in Angl, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 de Lys 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 France.
Origin & History of the de Lys Family in France
The family name de Lys carries a deep connection to the historical landscape of Brittany, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by 1663. During this period, families in the Breton region often adopted surnames that reflected their local environment or their ties to specific parcels of land. The name itself evokes the imagery of the lily, a symbol that held significant cultural and botanical meaning across French provinces for centuries. As the family settled into the social fabric of the region, they likely participated in the agricultural and community life typical of seventeenth-century Brittany. By maintaining their presence in the area, the early de Lys family members helped shape the local heritage that defines the region today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lilium
A Latin term referring to the lily flower.
This name
de LysA locative surname indicating origin from a place associated with lilies or the royal emblem.
also spelled
de Lis
de Lyss
de Lyse
de Lees
Delis
Related arms
de Lisvariant spelling
du Lysvariant spelling
Allixrecorded with de Lys, same area
Auriolrecorded with de Lys, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E: Familles, notaires et corporations
Poterie, Henri, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1965
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
