A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arc family of France.
Reg. 6736 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un arc d'or, ch. de trois flèches d'arg., empennées du sec., celle du milieu encochée, les deux autres br. en saut. (du Lys.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Arc Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Arc arms are recorded
The Arc 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 Arc 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 Arc Family in France
The family name Arc traces its early roots to the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the region was characterized by a strong sense of local identity and a reliance on agriculture and maritime trade. Families living in this part of France often took names that reflected their immediate surroundings, their occupations, or their connection to specific geographic landmarks. The name Arc suggests a possible link to the architectural features of the time or perhaps a topographical reference to the curved shape of the land near their ancestral home. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, navigating the complex political and economic changes that defined seventeenth-century France. Their presence in the historical record during this era highlights a long-standing connection to the traditions and rural life of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arcus
Latin term meaning a bow, arch, or curved structure.
This name
ArcA topographic name for someone living near an archway or a vaulted structure.
also spelled
Arck
Arce
Arcc
Ark
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Familles et seigneuries)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
