A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abasta family of France.
Reg. 6639 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au cavalier, hab. d'azur, monté sur un cheval galopant d'arg., brandissant une épée du même; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une barre hérissée de flammes, de gu. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa.”
Francec. 1605
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Map of France showing where the Abasta arms are recorded
The Abasta arms were recorded in France, c. 1605.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Abasta 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 Abasta Family in France
The family name Abasta finds its earliest documented roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, appearing in local records as early as 1605. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic structures of the Breton countryside, where families often identified themselves through their specific parish or trade. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity during the seventeenth century, the name likely evolved from local dialects or geographic markers common to the northwestern French provinces. Early members of the family were integrated into the rural fabric of the region, participating in the agricultural and maritime activities that defined life along the Atlantic coast. As the family grew, they remained connected to the traditions of their home province, carrying the name through generations as they navigated the shifting political landscape of early modern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abbas
Derived from the Aramaic word for father or religious leader.
This name
AbastaA locative or occupational surname likely referring to someone associated with an abbey or monastic estate.
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
Galllouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
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.
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
