Map of France showing where the Valera arms are recorded
The Valera 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 Valera 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 Valera Family in France
The family name Valera carries a history deeply rooted in the southwestern regions of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Guyenne. This area was a historic region known for its rich agricultural landscape and its strategic importance during the seventeenth century. Families living in Guyenne during this time often navigated the complex social changes following the religious conflicts of the previous century. The name itself is thought to be topographic in origin, likely describing ancestors who lived near a specific valley or a particular geographic landmark. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the region, contributing to the rural and administrative life of the French countryside before the name eventually spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Valere
Derived from the Latin verb valere meaning to be strong or healthy.
This name
ValeraA locational surname referring to individuals originating from places named Valera or Valere.
also spelled
Valer
Vallar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Boudet, Marcellin, Études historiques sur le droit et les institutions de la Guyenne, 1892
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
