A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doray family of France.
Reg. 5861 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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'azur à la croix d'or, cant. de quatre croisettes du même.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Doray Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Doray arms are recorded
The Doray arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Doray 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Doray Family in France
The family name Doray traces its roots to the historic province of Guyenne in southwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this region. During the seventeenth century, Guyenne was a vibrant area known for its agricultural wealth and its strategic position near the Atlantic coast. Families living in this part of France often identified themselves by their local geography or their specific trade within the community. As the Doray name took hold, it became part of the social fabric of the province during a time of significant transition in French history. Many individuals from this region eventually sought new opportunities across the ocean, carrying their family identity with them as they moved into different parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dore
Derived from the Old French word for golden or gilded.
This name
DorayA topographic name for someone living near a golden-colored area or a nickname for a person with blond hair.
also spelled
Daure
Daurer
Doray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Boudet, Marcellin, La Guyenne au XVIIe siècle, 1892
Papy, Michel, Histoire de la Guyenne et de la Gascogne, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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