Map of France showing where the Martel arms are recorded
The Martel arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1532.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Martel 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Martel Family in France
The name Martel has deep roots in the history of France, originating from the Old French word for hammer. It gained early fame through Charles Martel, the Frankish leader who famously halted the advance of invading forces at the Battle of Tours in 732. While the name began as a descriptive nickname for a strong or forceful person, it eventually became a formal surname passed down through generations. By the early 16th century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Franche-Comté. Records from 1532 confirm that members of the Martel family were active in this eastern area, where they integrated into the local social and legal structures of the time. This transition from a simple nickname to a recognized family name reflects the broader patterns of how surnames evolved across the French countryside during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois pals de gu., ch. chacun de trois fleurs-de-lis d'azur.”
Spainc. 1722
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Map of Spain showing where the Martel arms are recorded
The Martel arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in France when the Martel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Martel Family in Spain
The family name Martel carries a rich history that stretches across Europe before finding a firm foundation in the region of Castile by the early eighteenth century. While the name is famously associated with the Frankish leader Charles Martel, its presence in Spain reflects the movement of people and cultures during the medieval and early modern periods. By 1722, records confirm that members of the Martel family were established as active participants in the social and administrative life of Castile. During this era, families with this surname often held roles that connected them to the local nobility or the growing bureaucracy of the Spanish Crown. Their transition into the Castilian landscape highlights how surnames traveled through migration and service, eventually becoming deeply rooted in the local history of the Iberian Peninsula.
Martel Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Martellus
A Latin term meaning a small hammer.
This name
MartelAn occupational surname for a blacksmith or a nickname for a forceful person.
also spelled
Martell
Martelle
Related arms
Nartelsimilar arms
Marteelvariant spelling
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
Fournier, Gabriel, Les villages et la vie rurale en France au Moyen Âge, 1962
Archives départementales du Doubs, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1532
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
