A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fal family of France.
Reg. 9150 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de sa., acc. de trois martinets du même et ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis du champ.”
FranceJersey, c. 1725
Where the Fal Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fal arms are recorded
The Fal arms were recorded in Jersey, 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 Fal 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 Fal Family in France
The family name Fal has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. In the context of the Breton language and regional naming conventions, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a shortened form of a longer local term. During the eighteenth century, families in this coastal area were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trades, and surnames were frequently passed down through parish baptismal registers. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity during this period, the name Fal reflects the unique heritage of the people who inhabited the rural parishes of western France. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their community long before modern census records were established.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fala
A Latin term referring to a wooden tower or scaffold.
This name
FalA topographic name for someone who lived near a cliff or rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Fal
Faulle
Falls
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
