A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fayard family of France.
treeLife, endurance and deep rootsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or a un hêtre (fayard en patois) de sin.”
The Fayard arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Fayard 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 surname Fayard originates from the historical Lyonnais region of France, where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. The name is derived from the Old French word "fayard," which refers to a beech tree. In the medieval period, it was common for families to adopt names based on local landmarks or the specific types of trees found near their homes. Because the Lyonnais area is known for its dense forests and rolling hills, the name likely identified ancestors who lived near a prominent grove of beech trees. Over time, the name became a way to distinguish this specific lineage from others living in the surrounding villages. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Fayard family had become a recognized part of the local community, participating in the agricultural and social life of the region.
derived from the old French word faye meaning beech tree
