A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mollard family of France.
Reg. 7310 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une tour sommée d'une tourelle d'arg.”
SavoySavoy, c. 1663
Where the Mollard Arms Were Recorded
Savoy
Map of France showing where the Mollard arms are recorded
The Mollard arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields 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 Mollard 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Mollard Family in France
The family name Mollard finds its deepest roots in the mountainous region of Savoy, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1663. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from the old French word "mol," which refers to soft or marshy ground. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely farmers or settlers who lived near a specific patch of damp land or a small hill in the alpine landscape. During the seventeenth century, the Mollard family lived within the Duchy of Savoy, a territory that served as a vital crossroads between France and Italy. Because of this location, the family likely experienced the complex political shifts of the era as the region moved between various European powers. By living in such a rugged and isolated environment, the early Mollards developed a strong connection to their local community and the land they cultivated for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
moll
A mill or a grinding stone used in milling.
This name
MollardA topographic name for someone who lived near a mill or worked as a miller.
also spelled
Molard
Mollart
Related arms
Molardvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, État civil de la Savoie
Benoit, André, Histoire de la Savoie, 1992
Gros, Adolphe, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu de la Savoie, 1935
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
