A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lally family of France.
Reg. 7765 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ar. three eagles displ. gu. two and one, each holding in the beak a sprig of laurel ppr. betw. as many crescents, one and two az”
GalwayTullindally · Galway, c. 1766
Where the Lally Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Lally arms are recorded
The Lally arms were recorded in Galway, c. 1766.
Galway was western Irish country of poor land and a rich port. A small group of merchant families ran the town for centuries and held estates around it, and both kinds of property carried 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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Lally 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 Galway.
Origin & History of the Lally Family in France
The family name Lally is primarily associated with the west of Ireland, specifically County Galway, where the family established deep roots by the mid-eighteenth century. The name is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Maolalaidh, which translates to a descendant of a devotee or follower of a saint. Historically, the family belonged to the Uí Maine tribal grouping, which was a powerful confederation in the Connacht region. By the time of the 1766 religious census, members of the Lally family were well-documented residents of Galway, living as part of a society that was transitioning through significant social and political changes. Their presence in this region reflects a long history of Gaelic heritage that persisted despite the pressures of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lallius
A Roman family name derived from the Latin word for stammering.
This name
LallyA topographic surname for someone who lived near a clearing or a meadow.
also spelled
Lalley
Lallie
Lallay
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Ó Muraíle, Nollaig, The Celebrated Antiquary: Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (c. 1600–1671): His Life, Lineage and Learning, 1996
National Archives of Ireland, Religious Census of 1766
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
