A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aa family of France.
Reg. 3287 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“de sa. au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu; b. d'or à trois pals de gu.; au 2 de sin. à trois mâcles d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une tête et col d'âne de sa.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Aa Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Aa arms are recorded
The Aa arms were recorded in France, 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 Aa 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 Aa Family in France
The family name Aa is notable for its extreme brevity, which often traces back to ancient linguistic roots in Northern Europe. While the name is short, its presence in the historical record of Bretagne by 1725 suggests a family that was well-established in the coastal regions of western France during the early eighteenth century. At that time, families living in Bretagne were often deeply connected to the local maritime economy and the specific cultural traditions of the Armorican peninsula. Because the name is composed of two identical vowels, it likely functioned as a topographical identifier, perhaps referring to individuals who lived near a specific stream or water source. By the early 1700s, the family had integrated into the local parish structures, leaving behind records of births and marriages that confirm their long-standing residency in the region. This history highlights how a simple, distinct name could persist through generations while remaining tied to the unique landscape of northwestern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aqua
Latin term referring to water or a body of water.
This name
AaA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a stream or river.
also spelled
aa
ah
aah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Collection de l'état civil, 1725
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.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
