A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Valois family of France.
Reg. 9175 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce d'azur, ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the de Valois Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the de Valois arms are recorded
The de Valois arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the de Valois 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 Valois Family in France
The family name de Valois carries a deep connection to the historical landscape of France, with roots that stretch back well before the eighteenth century. While the name is famously associated with the royal dynasty that ruled France during the Middle Ages, many families bearing this surname emerged from local lineages tied to specific regions. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Bretagne. During this era, families in this region often lived as landholders or professionals who maintained strong ties to their local parishes. The name itself is topographical, originally describing people who lived in or near a valley. As these families moved through the rural communities of western France, they became part of the social fabric that defined provincial life long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
vallis
Latin term meaning a valley or low-lying area of land.
This name
de ValoisRefers to someone who originated from or resided in a valley.
also spelled
Devaloy
de Valwah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction seigneuriale)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morice, Pierre-Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
