Map of France showing where the Morey arms are recorded
The Morey 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 Morey 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 Morey Family in France
The Morey family name has deep roots in the northern region of France known as Picardie, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. The name is generally considered a topographic surname, which means it was likely given to people who lived near a specific landmark or geographic feature. In the dialects of northern France, the term often referred to someone who resided near a moor or a patch of uncultivated, open land. As families in the seventeenth century began to settle into more permanent communities, these descriptive names became hereditary and were passed down from parents to their children. By the time the family appeared in the records of Picardie, they were part of a long tradition of rural landowners and laborers who helped shape the agricultural landscape of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maurus
Derived from the Latin word for a dark-skinned person or Moor.
This name
MoreyA locative surname referring to someone who lived near a moor or a dark-colored area.
also spelled
Moreul
Morreuil
Moreuille
Morey
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales de la Somme. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
