Map of France showing where the Abercrombie arms are recorded
The Abercrombie arms were recorded in Edimbourg, c. 1709.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Abercrombie 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 Abercrombie Family in France
The surname Abercrombie originates from a place name in Scotland, specifically referring to a location in Fife where the name was first recorded in the thirteenth century. The name is derived from Gaelic words that describe a bend in a river or a marshy mouth of a stream. While the family established deep roots in the Scottish Lowlands, members of the family eventually migrated across Europe due to political shifts and military service. By 1709, records confirm that members of the Abercrombie family were present in the region of Bretagne in France. This migration was likely linked to the movement of Scottish soldiers and political exiles who sought new opportunities on the continent during a time of significant upheaval in the British Isles. These early settlers integrated into their new surroundings while maintaining the identity associated with their ancestral Scottish lands.
Abercrombie Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Abercrombie
Confluence of a river at a crooked bend.
This name
AbercrombieDerived from a Scottish place name meaning mouth of the crooked river.
also spelled
Abercromby
Aberkrumby
Related arms
Bardouinsimilar arms
Bourguignonsimilar arms
Cochranesimilar arms
Abercrombyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1306–1424
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Bretagne, 1709
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
