Map of France showing where the Melo arms are recorded
The Melo arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 Melo 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Melo Family in France
The family name Melo has deep roots that trace back to the northern region of France known as Picardie. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established and active within this area. During the seventeenth century, Picardie was a landscape defined by its proximity to the border and its role in the agricultural and social life of the French kingdom. Families living in this region often worked as skilled laborers or landowners who helped shape the local community. While the name Melo may have evolved from older linguistic roots, its presence in Picardie suggests that the family was part of the traditional social fabric of northern France during a time of significant historical change. Over the following generations, the family continued to grow and adapt to the shifting political and economic environment of the region.
Melo Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mel
Derived from the Latin word mel, meaning honey.
This name
MeloA locative surname referring to someone living near a honey-producing area or a sweet-natured person.
also spelled
Melo
Mellow
Mellou
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1600-1700)
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement français au Canada, 1996
Demangeon, Albert, La Picardie et les régions voisines, 1905
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
