Map of France showing where the Raff arms are recorded
The Raff arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Raff 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Raff Family in France
The surname Raff has deep roots in the historical landscape of northern France, with documented evidence placing family members in the region of Normandie as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Normandie was a bustling area defined by its agricultural output and its proximity to the English Channel, which made it a hub for trade and movement. Families living in this region often derived their names from local landmarks, occupations, or distinct personal traits that helped neighbors identify them in small village communities. As the name became established in the local records, the Raff family likely participated in the traditional life of the Norman countryside, contributing to the local economy and the social fabric of their parishes. Over time, these early settlers helped carry the name forward as they adapted to the changing political and social structures of seventeenth-century France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Radulf
Derived from the Germanic elements for counsel and wolf.
This name
RaffA French patronymic surname originating as a shortened form of the name Ralph.
also spelled
Raffret
Raffier
Raff
Rafray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Gautier, Hippolyte, La vie en France aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, 1898
Mousnier, Roland, La famille, l'enfant et l'éducation en France au XVIIe siècle, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
