Map of France showing where the Nolan arms are recorded
The Nolan arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Nolan 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Nolan Family in France
The family name Nolan has deep roots that stretch across centuries and borders. While the name is widely recognized as having Irish origins, specifically from the Gaelic name Ó Nualláin, historical records show that members of the family were established in the Guyenne region of southwestern France by 1663. During this period, the movement of families across Europe was often driven by trade, military service, or religious shifts. Settling in Guyenne placed these individuals in a prosperous area known for its vineyards and maritime connections. By maintaining a presence in this French province, the family integrated into the local social and economic life of the seventeenth century. This transition highlights how families moved between different cultural landscapes while preserving their ancestral identity over generations.
Nolan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Nuall
An ancient Gaelic term referring to a loud cry or shout.
This name
NolanA descendant of the famous or noble one, derived from a champion.
also spelled
Noailland
Noaillane
Noayan
Related arms
Nowlanvariant spelling
Nowlandvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives nationales de France, Série E: Familles
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Poussou, Jean-Pierre, Bordeaux et le Sud-Ouest au XVIIIe siècle, 1991
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