Map of France showing where the Dillard arms are recorded
The Dillard 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 Dillard 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 Dillard Family in France
The Dillard family name has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. The name is believed to be a variation of older French naming traditions that often described a person’s trade or their place of origin. In the eighteenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique culture and language, which influenced how families identified themselves. Many people with this surname were likely involved in the agricultural or maritime industries that defined the coastal economy of the region. As families moved throughout the eighteenth century, the name traveled from these rural French communities to other parts of Europe and eventually across the Atlantic. This migration helped the name evolve in spelling and pronunciation as it adapted to new languages and cultures.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Illard
Derived from the French locative preposition indicating origin from Illard.
This name
DillardRefers to a person who originated from the village of Illard in France.
also spelled
Dellarde
Dellardt
Dellardd
Delard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, 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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
