A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abbey family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2512 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au saut. de sin. C.: un lévrier iss., au nat. S.: deux lévriers, au nat. D.: SINE LABE.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Abbey Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Abbey arms are recorded
The Abbey arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Abbey 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Abbey Family in France
The family name Abbey traces its roots back to the historical region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were already established within the local community. The name itself is closely tied to the French word abbaye, which refers to an abbey or a monastery. In the medieval period, families often took their surnames from the places where they lived or worked. It is likely that the first people to carry this name were either residents living near a monastic estate or individuals employed by the church to manage its lands. These early ancestors were part of the rural fabric of Bretagne, living during a time when the region maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of the French kingdom. Their presence in the historical record highlights how common nouns describing the landscape and local institutions eventually evolved into the permanent family names we recognize today.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. five fusils conjoined in fesse, betw. three escallops ar”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Abbey Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Abbey arms are recorded
The Abbey arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of arms.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Abbey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Abbey Family in Wales
The family name Abbey has deep roots in the Welsh landscape, particularly within the historic county of Denbighshire. By the year 1647, records confirm that members of the family were already established in the town of Denbigh. During this period, the region was a bustling center of trade and agriculture, shaped by the influence of the nearby Denbigh Castle and the surrounding rural parishes. Families with this surname likely lived as tenant farmers or local tradespeople who contributed to the economic life of the Vale of Clwyd. Because the name is associated with the English word for a monastic house, it is possible that early ancestors were either employed by or lived near the ruins of the local religious sites that defined the area’s medieval history. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Abbey family became part of the social fabric of North Wales, navigating the political and religious changes that defined life in the Welsh borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abbas
Aramaic term meaning father or head of a religious community.
This name
AbbeyAn occupational name for someone who lived near or worked at an abbey.
also spelled
Abbe
Abbee
Abey
Abbay
Abbie
Related arms
Abbévariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
