Show ContentsDe valon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the De valon family

The surname De valon was first found in Valognes on the Cotentin peninsula. While the name remains a strong French name even to today, some of the family migrated to England as we shall soon discover.

"Peter de Valognes or Vallonis received from the Conqueror fifty-seven lordships in the counties of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertford, Cambridge, and Lincoln, and built his castle at Orford in Suffolk. He was Viscount of Essex 1087; and with his wife Albreda, the daughter of Hubert de Rie, founded Binham Priory in Norfolk 'for the welfare of the souls of William the Conqueror and Maud his Queen, and for the good estate of Henry I.' " 1

"Philip de Valoniis, the fifth son, also came into Scotland, towards the end of the reign of Malcolm IV. He was a constant attendant on William the Lion, and was one of the hostages for his liberation. In recompence, the King made him a grant of the manors of Panmure and Benvie, and appointed him High Chamberlain of Scotland about 1180. He witnessed the agreement betwixt King William I. and King John in 1209; was continued Chamberlain by Alexander II. on his accession, 1214: and dying on the 5th of November 1215, was interred with great solemnity in the chapter-house of Melrose." 2

Early History of the De valon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De valon research. Another 275 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1282, 1376, 1394, 1435, 1575, 1585, 1590, 1616, 1623, 1630, 1652, 1659, 1688, 1710, 1719, 1724, 1767, 1812 and 1904 are included under the topic Early De valon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De valon Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Valon, Valons, Valone, Valones, Vallon, Vallons, Vallone, Vallones, Valonne, Valonnes, Vallonne, Vallonnes, Valont, Valonts, Valond, Valonds, Valonde, Valondes, Walon, Walons, Wallon, Wallons, de Valon and many more.

Early Notables of the De valon family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Jacques-Louis, Marquis of Mimeure, Field Marshal, member of the French Academy; and Jacques Louis Valon, Marquis de Mimeure (1659-1719), a French...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early De valon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the De valon family

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec, in 1663 there were only 500, 2,000 migrants arrived during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name De valon. It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name De valon were Louis Vallon settled in Philadelphia in 1804; Antoine Vallone settled in Philadelphia in 1880.



The De valon Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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