Map of France showing where the Vallez arms are recorded
The Vallez arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield 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 Vallez 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 Navarre.
Origin & History of the Vallez Family in France
The name Vallez finds its historical roots in the northern regions of Spain, specifically within the Kingdom of Navarre. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in this mountainous territory. The name itself is likely a variation of the Spanish word valle, which means valley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely people who lived in or managed land within a specific valley. During the 1660s, Navarre was a region defined by its unique legal customs and strong local identity. Families like the Vallez were often involved in agricultural life or local administration, which helped them maintain a consistent presence in the region for generations. As these families grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Pyrenees, contributing to the distinct cultural heritage of the Navarrese people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vallis
Latin term meaning a valley or low-lying land.
This name
VallezA topographic surname for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Vales
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Real y General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales
Jimeno Jurío, José María, Historia de Pamplona y sus gentes, 1995
Caro Baroja, Julio, La casa en Navarra, 1982
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
