Map of France showing where the Silvani arms are recorded
The Silvani arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Silvani 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 France.
Origin & History of the Silvani Family in France
The Silvani family name finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of western France, with confirmed records placing the family in the region of Bretagne by 1663. The name is derived from the Latin word silva, which translates to forest or woodland. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely people who lived near or worked within the dense, ancient woodlands that covered much of the Breton countryside during the seventeenth century. As a family established in this coastal province, they were part of a society deeply connected to both the land and the sea. Life in Bretagne during this era was defined by local customs and a strong sense of regional identity, which likely shaped the daily experiences and occupations of the early Silvani family members as they settled into their community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Silvanus
Latin name derived from silva meaning forest or woods.
This name
SilvaniRefers to someone who lived in or worked near a forest.
also spelled
Salvany
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de l'intendance de Bretagne
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
