Map of France showing where the Merada arms are recorded
The Merada arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Merada 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Merada Family in France
The family name Merada traces its roots to the historic Lyonnais region of France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Lyonnais was a vital hub for trade and silk production, placing the family at the center of a bustling economic landscape. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions in eastern France, reflecting the specific dialects spoken in the rural communities surrounding the city of Lyon. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural villages where they contributed to the local economy through farming and skilled craftsmanship. As the family established itself in this region, they became part of the social fabric that defined the French countryside before the major political shifts of the eighteenth century. By remaining in the Lyonnais area, early generations helped preserve the regional identity that characterized the heart of France during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Merada Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
mer
Derived from the Latin word mare meaning the sea.
This name
MeradaA topographic name for someone who lived near the sea or a coastal region.
also spelled
Merault
Meraut
Mero
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Collection communale), 1663
Béghain, Patrice, Dictionnaire historique de Lyon, 2009
Fournier, Gabriel, La vie rurale dans la France médiévale, 1970
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
