Map of France showing where the Slaves arms are recorded
The Slaves arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind 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 Slaves 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Slaves Family in France
The family name Slaves traces its documented roots to the historic province of Guyenne in southwestern France during the mid-seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of this family were established within the region, which was then a vital center for trade and agriculture. The name likely evolved from local linguistic variations common to the Gascon dialect spoken in the area at the time. During this period, families in Guyenne were often defined by their connection to the land or their specific trade within the local community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, navigating the complex political shifts that defined French life under the reign of Louis XIV. Their presence in the region provides a window into the lives of provincial families who helped shape the cultural identity of southwestern France before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Esclave
Derived from the Old French term for a captive or enslaved person.
This name
SlavesAn occupational or descriptive surname historically applied to someone held in servitude or bondage.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Higounet, Charles, Histoire de Bordeaux, 1962
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
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
