Map of France showing where the Vasa arms are recorded
The Vasa arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields with them.
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 Vasa 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Vasa Family in France
The origins of the Vasa family name are deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Savoy region, where records confirm their presence as early as 1663. During this period, the family likely functioned as part of the local social structure in the Duchy of Savoy, which served as a strategic crossroads between France and Italy. The name itself may have evolved from local linguistic patterns or geographical markers common to the Alpine foothills. Families in this era often established their identity through land ownership, agricultural trade, or service to local administrative authorities. By settling in this mountainous territory, the early members of the Vasa line became part of a complex regional history defined by shifting borders and the influence of the House of Savoy. Their presence in the mid-seventeenth century suggests a stable life rooted in the traditions and economic activities of the Savoyard people.
Vasa Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Vas
Latin term for a vessel, container, or pledge.
This name
VasaA topographic name for someone living near a specific vessel-shaped valley or a metonymic occupational name for a vessel maker.
also spelled
Vyass
Viaz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et domaines
Borel, André, Les familles nobles de Savoie, 1902
Gabotto, Ferdinando, Lo Stato sabaudo da Amedeo VIII a Emanuele Filiberto, 1892
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
