A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Martorana family of France.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à l'aigle d'or.”
The Martorana arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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.
Reigning in France when the Martorana arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Martorana is deeply rooted in the Mediterranean world, with its origins likely tied to the Latin word *martorius*, which refers to a place where myrtle grows. While the family is famously associated with the history of Sicily, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Languedoc region of France by 1663. During this period, the family was part of a mobile society where people often moved across borders for trade, religious reasons, or to serve in local administrations. By settling in Languedoc, the family integrated into the social and economic fabric of southern France, likely working as landowners or merchants. This migration highlights the interconnected nature of European families during the seventeenth century, as they moved between the Italian peninsula and the French provinces to seek new opportunities.
Latin for the myrtle plant or shrub.
