A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mully family of France.
Reg. 1352 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“un vol à l'antique de gu. à la bande d'arg., ch. d'une croix de Lorraine recr. d'azur, posée en bande et ch. sur le milieu d'une troisième traverse du même. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Francec. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Mully arms are recorded
The Mully arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Mully 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 France.
Origin & History of the Mully Family in France
The family name Mully has deep roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language, often separating it from the rest of the French kingdom. Families in this area frequently worked in maritime trades or small-scale agriculture, as the rugged landscape and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean shaped daily life. The name likely evolved from local dialects spoken in the region, reflecting the way people identified themselves within their specific villages and parishes. Over time, as family members moved through the province, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage and their long-standing connection to the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
moulin
A building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour.
This name
MullyAn occupational surname for someone who lived near or worked at a mill.
also spelled
Mulla
Mully
Mules
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Collection de la série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Galliot, Marcel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1964
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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