Map of France showing where the Actis arms are recorded
The Actis arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 Actis 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 Actis Family in France
The family name Actis has deep roots tied to the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the lineage were firmly established by 1663. During this period, the region was a center of maritime trade and agricultural development, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of the early family members. The name itself is thought to be linked to local linguistic traditions in northwestern France, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the Breton people. Families in this area often lived in close-knit rural communities where they maintained strong ties to the land and local parish life. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Actis name was already part of the historical fabric of the region, existing alongside the evolving social structures of the French provinces. These early ancestors helped shape the local history of their villages through their contributions to the community and their endurance through the changing political landscape of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Actus
Latin term meaning a driving, a doing, or an act.
This name
ActisDerived from a topographic or occupational descriptor related to someone living near a path or performing specific duties.
also spelled
Astee
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
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
