Map of France showing where the Lape arms are recorded
The Lape arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1663.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their own.
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 Lape 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 Alsace.
Origin & History of the Lape Family in France
The surname Lape has deep roots in the eastern French region of Alsace, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During this period, Alsace was a complex cultural crossroads that had recently come under French control following the Thirty Years' War. Families like the Lapes often lived in small agricultural villages where life revolved around the rhythms of the seasons and the local parish church. Because the region frequently shifted between different political and linguistic influences, the name likely evolved from local dialects that described a person’s proximity to a specific landscape feature or a particular type of land. As members of a rural society, the early Lapes were part of a resilient community that navigated the challenges of rebuilding after decades of regional conflict. Their presence in the historical record during the mid-seventeenth century highlights the family's role in the long-term settlement and development of the Alsatian countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à trois feuilles de tilleul d'arg., les tiges en bas. C.: une feuille de l'écu, devant cinq roseaux de sa.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lape arms are recorded
The Lape arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Lape arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Lape Family in Germany
The family name Lape finds its roots in the historical region of Westphalia, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1765. During this period, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and a growing connection to the Prussian state. The name likely originated as a topographic or habitational surname, which was common practice in German-speaking lands at the time to identify individuals by their proximity to a specific landmark or a local geographical feature. Families in this region often lived in rural villages where they worked the land or participated in local trades. As the eighteenth century progressed, the social structure of Westphalia began to shift due to changing economic conditions and regional governance. These early ancestors were part of a resilient population that navigated the complex political environment of the Holy Roman Empire before the major upheavals of the nineteenth century. By studying the history of this area, one can see that the Lape family was part of a tradition of deep-rooted community life that defined the Westphalian identity for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
lapa
A Latin term referring to a flat surface or a broad leaf.
This name
LapeA topographic name for someone who lived near a flat piece of land or a meadow.
also spelled
Lape
Lapy
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Registres paroissiaux (1663)
Boehler, Jean-Michel, Une société rurale en milieu rhénan: la paysannerie de la plaine d'Alsace (1648-1789), 1994
Livet, Georges, L'Alsace et les provinces du Rhin au XVIIIe siècle, 1956
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
leafHappiness and abundance
