A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sarlo family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Burelé d'arg. et de gu., de douze pièces.”
The Sarlo arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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.
Reigning in France when the Sarlo arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Sarlo has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was likely associated with the local population of northwestern France, a region defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and maritime culture. Families in this area often lived in small rural parishes where they worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the local economy and social structure of the province. Over time, the name evolved alongside the regional dialects and the shifting political landscape of the French kingdom. By settling in Bretagne, the early Sarlo family became part of a long tradition of families who maintained strong ties to their local land and community for generations.
Derived from the Germanic word for a free man.
