A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Farel family of France.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion de gu.”
The Farel arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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.
Reigning in France when the Farel arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Farel has deep roots in the historical province of Dauphiné, a region in southeastern France known for its rugged mountain terrain and distinct local traditions. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Farel family were well-established residents in this area. The name itself is thought to be derived from local linguistic roots, possibly linked to the word "far," which referred to a type of grain or flour in the regional dialect. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family may have been involved in agriculture or the milling trade, which were essential occupations in the rural communities of the Alps. Over time, the family became integrated into the social fabric of Dauphiné, living through the significant religious and political shifts that defined the seventeenth century in France. Their presence in this specific region highlights a long history of resilience and adaptation within the French countryside.
Latin term for a craftsman, smith, or maker.
