A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arch family of France.
Reg. 3090 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un arc de gu., sans corde, posé en barre”
Francec. 1663
Where the Arch Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Arch arms are recorded
The Arch 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 Arch 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 Arch Family in France
The family name Arch has deep roots tied to the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. In this coastal region of northwestern France, surnames often evolved from local geography or the specific trades practiced by early ancestors. The name likely functioned as a descriptive identifier, possibly linked to the architectural features of stone structures or the arched bridges common in the medieval countryside. As families in Bretagne were often deeply connected to their local parishes, the name Arch would have been recorded in church registers during the seventeenth century as these communities tracked births, marriages, and deaths. Over time, the family likely maintained a strong connection to the maritime and agricultural traditions of the region, passing the name down through generations as they navigated the shifting political and social landscape of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arcus
Latin term meaning a bow, arch, or curved structure.
This name
ArchA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent archway or bridge.
also spelled
Arche
Archée
Archay
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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Collection de la série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Goff, Hervé, Les noms de famille en Bretagne, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
