Map of France showing where the Armbrust arms are recorded
The Armbrust arms were recorded in Strasbourg, c. 1663.
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 Armbrust 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 Armbrust Family in France
The surname Armbrust is a German occupational name that translates directly to crossbow. During the Middle Ages, this name was likely given to a skilled maker of crossbows or a soldier who served as a marksman in a local militia. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Strasbourg, which served as a major cultural and political crossroads between France and Germany. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Armbrust family were active residents of this region during a time of significant transition for the city. As artisans or tradespeople, these early ancestors contributed to the local economy and urban life of Strasbourg. Their presence in such a prominent city suggests that the family was integrated into the professional guilds that defined social status and trade during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Armbrust
Derived from the Middle High German term for a crossbow.
This name
ArmbrustAn occupational surname for a crossbow maker or a soldier who used a crossbow.
also spelled
Armbrusteri
Armbrust
Armbrustor
Armbrustar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de la Ville et de l'Eurométropole de Strasbourg, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Dollinger, Philippe, Histoire de l'Alsace, 1970
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
