A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Horak family of France.
Reg. 2717 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur au lion d'or, soutenu d'un rocher de trois coupeaux de sin. et acc. en chef de trois étoiles mal-ordonnées du sec.; au 2 d'or à une branche feuillée arr. de sin. C.: un lion iss. d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Horak arms are recorded
The Horak 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 Horak 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 Horak Family in France
The name Horak is traditionally associated with Slavic linguistic roots, often derived from the word for a mountain dweller or someone living on a rugged hill. While the name is most commonly found in Central Europe today, the presence of the family in the Bretagne region of France by 1725 suggests a fascinating history of migration and adaptation. During the early 18th century, many families moved across European borders for work, trade, or military service, often settling in new provinces where their names were recorded phonetically by local clerks. In the coastal and rural communities of Bretagne, the Horak name would have stood out as a foreign identifier, marking the family as newcomers who brought distinct cultural traditions to their new home. Over time, these early ancestors likely integrated into the local French society while maintaining the unique identity tied to their ancestral name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hora
Derived from the Latin word for time or hour.
This name
HorakA topographic name for someone who lived near a mountain or a person who kept time.
also spelled
Horach
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
