Map of France showing where the Lorah arms are recorded
The Lorah arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Lorah 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Lorah Family in France
The family name Lorah traces its roots to the southeastern region of France known as the Dauphiné. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this mountainous area. During the seventeenth century, the Dauphiné was a place of significant social and religious change, which often influenced the movement of families across the landscape. The name likely evolved from local dialects or geographic descriptions common to the Alpine foothills. As these early ancestors lived and worked in the region, they became part of the local community structure that defined life in rural France during the reign of King Louis XIV. Over time, the family name persisted as a marker of their specific origins in this historic province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Laurus
Latin term for the laurel tree, symbolizing victory and honor.
This name
LorahA French locative or occupational surname derived from laurel groves or laurel wreath makers.
also spelled
Lorah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Collection de l'Intendance de Dauphiné
Archives départementales de la Drôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
