A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arci family of France.
Reg. 3774 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur au soleil d'or; au 2 d'or à l'aigle de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Arci Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Arci arms are recorded
The Arci 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 Arci 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 Arci Family in France
The family name Arci finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, families in the region often lived in close-knit rural communities that relied heavily on agriculture and maritime trade. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the unique cultural blend of the Breton people who maintained distinct customs and a language separate from the rest of France. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their parish, participating in the local church life and community governance that defined life in the seventeenth century. Their presence in Bretagne suggests they were part of the hardworking population that navigated the political and economic shifts of the French provinces during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arcus
Latin term referring to a bow or a curved arch structure.
This name
ArciA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near an archway or a bow-shaped feature.
also spelled
Arcie
Arcy
Arcii
Archee
Related arms
Arcyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1992
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.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
