Map of France showing where the Pelo arms are recorded
The Pelo arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Pelo 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Pelo Family in France
The family name Pelo has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During this period, the name was likely tied to the rural landscape and the specific dialects spoken in the western provinces of France. Many families in this area were involved in agriculture or maritime trades, which defined their daily lives and social standing within their local parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the long history of the Breton people, who maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of the country. By tracing their presence back to the mid-seventeenth century, we see a family that was firmly established in the local community long before modern record-keeping systems were fully developed. This early history reflects the quiet endurance of families who helped shape the traditions and social fabric of the Brittany peninsula over several centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pel
Derived from the Old French word for skin or fur.
This name
PeloA nickname for a person with a hairy appearance or a furrier.
also spelled
Pelaude
Pelo
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, 1663
Gallou, Jean-Yves, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 2005
Le Moing, Ronan, Les noms de famille bretons, 1998
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
