A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Laviolette family of France.
Reg. 6751 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 la fasce de sa., ch. de deux épées d'or, passées en saut., et acc. en chef de trois merlettes rangées de sa. et en p. d'un palmier de sin., terrassé du même.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Laviolette arms are recorded
The Laviolette 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 Laviolette 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 Laviolette Family in France
The surname Laviolette originated in France as a descriptive nickname, likely referring to someone with a gentle personality or perhaps a person associated with the violet flower. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne. During this era, many families in rural France adopted names based on their personal traits or their connection to the local landscape. As the family grew, they likely worked in traditional trades common to the Breton countryside, such as farming or maritime commerce. The name eventually traveled across the Atlantic as French settlers moved to North America, carrying their history and identity from their ancestral home in Bretagne to new territories.
Laviolette Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Viola
Latin term for the violet flower or a purple color.
This name
LavioletteA topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of violets.
also spelled
Lavalet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
