Map of France showing where the Moye arms are recorded
The Moye arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 Moye 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Moye Family in France
The family name Moye has deep roots in the historical region of Flandre, which spans parts of modern-day France and Belgium. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this area. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, likely derived from local dialects spoken in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. Families in this region often lived in close-knit agricultural or trade communities, and names were frequently assigned based on a person’s physical traits, their specific occupation, or the village where they resided. As these early ancestors moved through the changing political landscapes of Flandre, they helped shape the local culture and economy of the region. Over several generations, the name became a permanent marker of their identity and their long-standing connection to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Modius
A Latin term for a dry measure of grain or bushel.
This name
MoyeDerived from a topographic name for someone living near a grain storehouse.
also spelled
Moyes
Moie
Moy
Related arms
Moyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Smet, J., De bevolking van de Vlaamse steden in de 17e eeuw, 1968
Archives départementales du Nord, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Vandenbroeke, C., Sociale geschiedenis van het Vlaamse volk, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
