Map of France showing where the Fravel arms are recorded
The Fravel arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fravel 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Fravel Family in France
The family name Fravel traces its roots back to the coastal region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and language, shaped by its long history of maritime trade and agricultural traditions. Families in this region often lived in small rural parishes, where they were deeply connected to the land and the local church. As the name evolved over generations, it likely shifted in spelling to reflect the local dialects spoken across the Breton countryside. By maintaining their presence in this area, the early members of the Fravel family participated in the daily life and social customs that defined life in western France during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fève
The French word for a broad bean or fava bean.
This name
FravelA topographic or occupational name for someone who grew or sold beans.
also spelled
Fravault
Fravall
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d’état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de la série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Galloudec, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1953
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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