A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harling family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4311 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 deux têtes et cols de coq, arr. et adossées de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un coq iss. et ess. de gu. S.: deux coqs reg. de gu. D.: VEILLANT, VAILLANT.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Harling Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Harling arms are recorded
The Harling arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Harling 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 France.
Origin & History of the Harling Family in France
The history of the Harling name in France is deeply tied to the rugged landscape and distinct cultural identity of the Bretagne region. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this northwestern territory. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne functioned as a province with its own unique customs and legal traditions, separate from the rest of the French kingdom. Families living in this area often worked in agriculture or maritime trades, as the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean shaped both the economy and the daily lives of the local population. The presence of the Harling name in these early parish registers suggests that the family was part of the stable, land-holding class that helped maintain the social structure of rural Breton villages. Over time, these families became deeply integrated into the local community, contributing to the rich heritage that defines the history of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. nine fleurs-de-lis ar. three, three, two, and one”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Harling Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Harling arms are recorded
The Harling arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Harling arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Harling Family in England
The surname Harling is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the village of Harling in the county of Norfolk, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Herlinga. Over the centuries, families living in or near this settlement adopted the name as a way to identify their origins as they moved to neighboring regions. By the early seventeenth century, the name had become well-established in the nearby county of Suffolk. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Harling family were active participants in the local community there, likely working as farmers or tradespeople during a time of significant social and economic change in rural England. This transition from a localized geographic identity to a hereditary surname reflects the broader movement of people across the English landscape during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
A Germanic term meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
HarlingDerived from a locative name referring to people from a hardy or brave settlement.
also spelled
Harlyng
Harlinge
Harlingue
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
