Map of France showing where the Meloy arms are recorded
The Meloy 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 Meloy 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 Meloy Family in France
The family name Meloy traces its roots to the historic region of Picardie in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which served as a vital crossroads for trade and agriculture between Paris and the Low Countries. During the seventeenth century, Picardie was a landscape defined by its proximity to the royal court and its role in regional conflicts, which influenced the movement and social standing of local families. The name likely evolved from regional dialects common to the northern French provinces, reflecting the linguistic shifts that occurred as the French language standardized during the early modern period. Families in this region often lived in close-knit rural communities, relying on the fertile soil of the plains to sustain their livelihoods. This early presence in Picardie suggests that the family was part of the foundational social fabric of northern France before many individuals began to migrate further across Europe and eventually to the Americas.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. three boars' heads erased in bend ar”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Meloy arms are recorded
The Meloy arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Meloy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Meloy Family in England
The history of the Meloy name in England is deeply rooted in the northern city of York, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1620. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. The name likely evolved as a variation of older occupational or locational surnames common in the northern counties, reflecting the way people identified themselves by their trade or their place of origin. By the early seventeenth century, the Meloy family was well-established within the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life of a city that was transitioning through significant political and religious changes. Their presence in York suggests that they were part of the stable, industrious population that helped maintain the city’s importance throughout the Stuart era.
Meloy Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Malo
Derived from the Breton saint name meaning bright or radiant.
This name
MeloyA locative surname referring to someone originating from Saint-Malo in Brittany, France.
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, 1663
Boulanger, Jean-François, Histoire de la Picardie, 2008
Fossier, Robert, Histoire de la Picardie, 1974
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
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
