Map of France showing where the Graver arms are recorded
The Graver arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Graver 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Graver Family in France
The family name Graver has deep roots in the southwestern region of France known as Guyenne. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established within this historic province. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term for a person’s occupation or their physical environment. In the local dialects of the time, the term often related to individuals who worked with gravel or lived near stony riverbeds. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Guyenne, which was a vital area for trade and agriculture. Their presence in the region during the seventeenth century suggests they were integrated into the local community long before official records began to track every citizen. Over time, the family name became a permanent marker of their heritage in this part of the French countryside.
Graver Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
grave
Old French term for a sandy or gravelly river bank.
This name
GraverAn occupational name for someone who lived near a gravel pit or sandy riverbank.
also spelled
Gravier
Graverre
Gravair
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales de la Gironde, Série E: Familles, notaires et généalogies
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Higounet, Charles, Histoire de Bordeaux: Bordeaux pendant le haut Moyen Âge, 1963
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
