A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grall family of France.
Reg. 1724 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. à un pin de sin.; et un lièvre de sa., br. sur le fût.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Grall Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grall arms are recorded
The Grall 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 Grall 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 Grall Family in France
The family name Grall has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by at least 1663. The name is believed to originate from the Breton language, which was the primary tongue spoken in the western part of the peninsula during the Middle Ages. In the Breton dialect, the word "grall" is often associated with a tall or lanky person, suggesting that the name likely began as a descriptive nickname for a specific ancestor. Over many generations, this nickname transitioned into a permanent surname as families became more settled in their local parishes. Because Brittany remained a distinct cultural area with its own traditions, the Grall family history is closely tied to the rural life and agricultural customs of the Breton countryside. By the mid-17th century, the family was already well-integrated into the social fabric of the region, leaving behind traces in local parish registers that document their daily lives and community connections.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gracilis
Latin term meaning slender, thin, or graceful.
This name
GrallA nickname for a person of thin or slender physical build.
also spelled
Gral
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
