A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amiens family of France.
Reg. 4704 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
vairProtection, and the winter fur
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à trois chev. de vair.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Amiens Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Amiens arms are recorded
The Amiens 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 Amiens 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 Amiens Family in France
The family name Amiens originates from the historic city of the same name in the Picardy region of northern France. During the medieval period, individuals often adopted the names of their home cities as surnames when they moved to new regions. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the province of Bretagne. This movement was likely driven by the search for new economic opportunities or shifts in regional administration during the seventeenth century. As the family settled into their new life in western France, they integrated into the local community while maintaining a connection to their northern ancestral roots. This transition highlights the common practice of geographic naming conventions that helped shape the identity of families across the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ambiani
A Celtic tribe name meaning those who live on both sides.
This name
AmiensRefers to a person originating from the city of Amiens in northern France.
also spelled
Amien
Amyens
Amyen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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