A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Launay family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9314 · Belgian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg, au chev. engr. de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'herm. plein. Cq. cour. C.: une hure de sanglier de sa., le boutoir en haut, tenant entre ses dents un rameau de laurier de sin., en pal. T.: deux sauvages de carn., ceints et cour. de lierre, tenant chacun une bannière, celle à dextre aux armes de l'écu, celle à sen. d'arg. à trois chev. de sa.; les bannières attachées à des lances de tournoi. [Armes de Pierre Albert et Jean de L., rois d'armes à titre de Brabant, faussaires fameux en matières généalogiques.]”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the Launay arms are recorded
The Launay arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Launay arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Brabant.
Origin & History of the Launay Family in Belgium
The surname Launay traces its roots to the French language, where it originally served as a topographic identifier for individuals who lived near or within a grove of alder trees. By the early eighteenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the Duchy of Brabant, a region that now spans parts of modern-day Belgium. Records from 1737 confirm that these early settlers were integrated into the local social and economic fabric of the area. During this period, the family likely navigated the complex administrative landscape of the Austrian Netherlands, where they would have been subject to the local laws and customs of the Brabant provinces. As they settled into these communities, the family name became a permanent fixture in the regional history of the Low Countries, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and social development that defined the era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
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 sept mâcles de gu.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Launay arms are recorded
The Launay arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Belgium when the Launay 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Launay Family in France
The surname Launay traces its roots to the northwestern region of France known as Brittany. The name is topographic in origin, meaning it was derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. It comes from the Old French word *aulnaie*, which refers to a grove or a plantation of alder trees. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was firmly established in the Breton landscape. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Launay family were active participants in the social and administrative life of the province during this period. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the local rural economy and the unique cultural identity of Brittany, which was then a distinct duchy with its own traditions and legal customs. The name served as a marker of their geographic origins, linking their identity to the specific woods and wetlands that defined the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aunaie
A place planted with alder trees.
This name
LaunayA topographic name for someone who lived near an alder grove.
also spelled
Launaye
Launayy
Lonay
Related arms
Bertinrecorded with Launay, same area
Bouchartrecorded with Launay, same area
Bruneaurecorded with Launay, same area
Buryrecorded with Launay, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Herbillon, Jules and Germain, Jean, Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Belgique romane et dans les régions limitrophes, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
