Map of France showing where the Raval arms are recorded
The Raval arms were recorded in Saintonge, c. 1663.
Saintonge was western coastal country in France, living on salt, wine and the sea. Merchant families bought estates with their profits, and an estate 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 Raval 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 Saintonge.
Origin & History of the Raval Family in France
The family name Raval traces its roots to the historic province of Saintonge in western France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established in this coastal region. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old French word "raval," which refers to a low-lying area or a valley. Families living near these geographical features often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their local communities. During the seventeenth century, the people of Saintonge were deeply connected to the land and the sea, and the Raval family would have been part of this traditional agricultural and maritime society. As the family grew, their presence in the region became a permanent part of the local history, reflecting the broader patterns of settlement and naming customs common in rural France during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vallum
Latin term referring to a wall, rampart, or defensive earthwork.
This name
RavalA topographic name for someone who lived near a valley or a defensive wall.
also spelled
Raval
Ravalette
Ravalay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Charente-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la Saintonge, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
