Map of France showing where the Pil arms are recorded
The Pil arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to arms.
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 Pil 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Pil Family in France
The family name Pil has deep roots in the rugged landscape of the Auvergne region in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this mountainous area. During the seventeenth century, the Auvergne was a place defined by its volcanic terrain and isolated rural communities. Families like the Pil line were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trades that supported the small villages scattered across the Massif Central. Because the region was somewhat separated from the major political centers of France, families in this area often maintained strong local traditions and stayed in the same parishes for many generations. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects spoken in the region, reflecting the unique linguistic history of the French highlands. By living in this area during the mid-1600s, the Pil family was part of a resilient population that navigated the social and economic changes of the early modern period in rural France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a cross betw. four nails gu”
BerksCompton-Beauchamp · Berks, c. 1628
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Map of England showing where the Pil arms are recorded
The Pil arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1628.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Pil arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Berks.
Origin & History of the Pil Family in England
The surname Pil is a rare and ancient name that likely emerged as a descriptive nickname or a locational marker in medieval England. While the exact origins of the name are often obscured by the passage of time, historical records confirm that members of the Pil family were established in the county of Berkshire by 1628. During this period, families in Berkshire were often tied to the local agricultural economy or the burgeoning trade networks that connected rural parishes to the growing influence of London. The name itself may have roots in Old English or Middle English terms related to small stakes or pointed objects, which were common references for people living near specific landmarks or those who worked in particular trades. As the family settled into the social fabric of Berkshire, they became part of the local parish life, which served as the primary way for families to record their births, marriages, and deaths in the seventeenth century. By tracing their presence back to this era, we see a family that was deeply integrated into the regional history of Southern England long before the industrial shifts of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pilus
Latin term referring to a hair or a javelin.
This name
PilA nickname for a person with a hairy appearance or a soldier.
also spelled
Pyle
Pille
Peelay
Pyll
Pill
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Boudet, Marcellin, Études historiques sur la province d'Auvergne, 1898
Fournier, Gabriel, Le peuplement rural en Basse-Auvergne durant le haut Moyen Âge, 1962
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
cross symbolChristian faith and service
