A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arcy family of France.
Reg. 1341 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
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 trois quintefeuilles de gu. C.: une femme iss., les cheveux épars, hab. de gu., tenant de sa main dextre trois roses de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin. S.: à dextre une chèvre d'arg., accornée, crinée et onglée d'or; à sen. un cerf d'herm., ramé et onglé d'or. D.: VERTU CHERCHE HONNEUR.”
Francec. 1551
Where the Arcy Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Arcy arms are recorded
The Arcy arms were recorded in France, c. 1551.
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.
Henry II of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry II of France
1547–1559
Reigning in France when the Arcy 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 Arcy Family in France
The family name Arcy has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where members of the family were officially documented as early as 1551. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and administrative structures of the province. Families in this region often derived their names from specific geographic features or small settlements, which helped identify their origins within the local community. As the family established itself in Bretagne, they became part of the local fabric of life, often participating in regional commerce or land management. Over the centuries, the name evolved alongside the changing political landscape of France, reflecting the migration patterns and social shifts common to families living in the western coastal provinces. By maintaining a presence in Bretagne for generations, the Arcy family contributed to the long-standing cultural history of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arcis
Latin term referring to a citadel, fortress, or defensive stronghold.
This name
ArcyA locational surname denoting someone who originated from a place featuring a fortress or castle.
also spelled
Arcie
Arcyy
Arc
Arsee
D'Arcy
Related arms
Arcvariant spelling
Arcivariant spelling
Darcievariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Poterin du Motel, Généalogie de la maison d'Arcy, 1904
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cinquefoilHope and joy
cinquefoilHope and joy
