Map of France showing where the Keville arms are recorded
The Keville arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Keville 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 Keville Family in France
The history of the Keville name is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During this period, families in this part of France often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities that relied on farming and maritime trade. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the specific dialect spoken in the western provinces of France at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the parish life and agricultural cycles that defined life in the seventeenth century. Over time, the name persisted through generations, serving as a marker of the family’s long-standing connection to the landscape and history of the Breton region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caput villae
Latin phrase meaning head of the village or town.
This name
KevilleA topographic name for someone who lived at the head of a village.
also spelled
Keville
Quevil
Kevil
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B (Archives de la juridiction seigneuriale)
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E (Documents familiaux et notariaux)
Galliou, Patrick, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 2005
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
