A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dray family of France.
Reg. 6508 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 cinq merlettes d'arg., 2, 2 et 1, ou 2, 1 et 2. S. : deux griffons, au nat.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Dray Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Dray arms are recorded
The Dray arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Dray 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Dray Family in France
The family name Dray has deep roots in the Burgundy region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the agricultural traditions of the area. Many families with this surname were likely involved in the local wine trade or small-scale farming, which were the primary economic activities in the region at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, often appearing in parish registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. These early records suggest that the Dray family lived a stable life within the village communities of Burgundy, contributing to the local culture and economy for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Draier
Old French term for a cloth merchant or draper.
This name
DrayOccupational surname referring to a person who sold cloth or worked as a draper.
also spelled
Dray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques aspects de la démographie historique en Bourgogne, 1978
Garnier, Joseph, Chartes de communes et d'affranchissements en Bourgogne, 1867
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
