Map of France showing where the Waldrop arms are recorded
The Waldrop arms were recorded in Boston, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Waldrop 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 Waldrop Family in France
The family name Waldrop traces its roots in France to the historic region of Bretagne, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During this era, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and a strong maritime tradition. Families living in this coastal region often navigated the complex social shifts of the eighteenth century, which was a time of significant agricultural and economic transition in rural France. While the name itself carries linguistic echoes of Germanic origins, its deep integration into the Breton landscape suggests that these early ancestors were likely integrated into the local parish life and community structures of the time. By settling in this rugged western territory, the early Waldrops became part of a long history of families who shaped the local identity of northwestern France before many eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Barry of six or and az. an eagle displ. with two heads gu”
GloucesterPucklechurch · Gloucester, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Waldrop arms are recorded
The Waldrop arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Waldrop arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Waldrop Family in England
The Waldrop family name finds its historical roots in the region of Gloucestershire, England, where members of the family were documented as early as 1620. The name itself is believed to be locational, likely derived from a specific place or settlement known as a "wald-throp," which translates from Old English and Old Norse roots to mean a village or farmstead situated near a forest. During the early 17th century, the people bearing this name were typically part of the rural population, living in a time when England was transitioning through significant social and economic changes. As residents of Gloucestershire, the early Waldrops were likely involved in the local agricultural or wool trade, which was the backbone of the region’s economy at the time. By the time the name appears in official records in 1620, the family had already established a presence in the English countryside, marking the beginning of a lineage that would eventually see its members move across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wald-thorp
A forest village or settlement located near woodland.
This name
WaldropDerived from Old Germanic elements referring to a person living in a forest village.
also spelled
Walderon
Waldren
Walderne
Waldryn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Bretagne)
Croix, Alain, La Bretagne aux 16e et 17e siècles: la vie, la mort, la foi, 1984
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.
bullValour and generosity
bullValour and generosity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
