Map of France showing where the Roy arms are recorded
The Roy arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Roy 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 Provence.
Origin & History of the Roy Family in France
The surname Roy originates from the Old French word for king, which was often used as a nickname for someone who acted in a regal manner or served in a royal household. By the mid-17th century, the name was well-established in the Provence region of southeastern France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1663, a time when the region was deeply influenced by its Mediterranean trade routes and local administrative traditions. Families bearing this name during this period were often involved in agriculture or local craft guilds, reflecting the common social structures of rural French life. As the name spread throughout the country, it became a common identifier for those who lived under the direct jurisdiction of the crown or who held positions of local authority. This connection to the monarchy helped the name persist across generations as families moved between villages and cities in search of new opportunities.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, acc. de deux fleurs-de-lis du même et ch. d'un cimeterre de gu., posé dans le sens de la bande. C.: un bras, arm. d'arg., brandissant un cimeterre de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Roy arms are recorded
The Roy arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield 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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Roy Family in Switzerland
The family name Roy has deep roots in the Swiss region of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1745. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in the rural districts surrounding the city, where they participated in the local agricultural and civic life of the Old Swiss Confederacy. The name itself is derived from the Old French word for king, which suggests that early ancestors may have been given the name as a nickname or a title of status within their community. As the family grew, they became integrated into the strict social and political structures of the Bernese canton. By the mid-18th century, the Roy family was well-positioned to navigate the complex bureaucratic systems of the time, leaving behind traces in local tax rolls and church registers that document their steady presence in the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Gu. a bend ar. a label of five points az”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Roy arms are recorded
The Roy arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Roy 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 England.
Origin & History of the Roy Family in England
The surname Roy has deep roots in England, where it often emerged as a descriptive nickname for individuals with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established in the northern city of York, a region known for its strong ties to trade and local governance. Families bearing this name in York during the 1620s were part of a growing urban population that navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart era. Because York served as a major administrative and religious hub, those named Roy likely participated in the city’s vibrant craft guilds or local parish life. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple physical descriptor into a permanent family identifier, reflecting the movement and settlement patterns of people living in northern England during this period.
Roy Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Rex
Latin term meaning a monarch or sovereign ruler.
This name
RoyA status-based surname originally used to denote someone who worked for or resembled a king.
also spelled
Roi
King
Roie
Royse
Related arms
Aldobrandini di Lipposimilar arms
Bernhardisimilar arms
Croptesimilar arms
le Roi-Chavignyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
