Map of France showing where the Ravel arms are recorded
The Ravel arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Ravel 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Ravel Family in France
The family name Ravel has deep roots in the Bourgogne region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name itself is thought to be a topographic surname, which means it likely originated from a person’s proximity to a specific physical feature in the landscape. In Old French, the term "ravel" was often associated with sandy banks, small streams, or gravelly terrain found near riverbeds. Families during this period frequently adopted names based on the geography of their home, helping to distinguish them within their local communities. As the family grew in Bourgogne, they became part of the regional social fabric, living through the agricultural and economic shifts that defined life in eastern France during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rave
Old French term for a turnip or a radish.
This name
RavelA topographic name for someone who lived near a turnip field or a nickname for a grower.
also spelled
Ravie
Ravell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Série E (Familles et seigneuries)
Books: Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Books: Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
