A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Armes family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9950 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swordJustice, and military honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, posées en chev. et acc. en chef d'une rose du troisième; à la bord. engr. aussi d'or.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Armes Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Armes arms are recorded
The Armes 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 Armes 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 Armes Family in France
The family name Armes has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the name was likely linked to the rugged landscape and the distinct social structure of northwestern France. Families in this region often derived their names from their specific occupations, physical traits, or the unique geography of their local parishes. In the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a province with its own strong sense of identity and traditions that were separate from the rest of the kingdom. Those bearing the name Armes were part of a society defined by maritime trade, agriculture, and the influence of the Catholic Church. By settling in this area, the early ancestors of the Armes family became part of a long-standing community that navigated the political and social shifts of the French provinces during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, on a bend az. three hands clenched and couped at the wrist of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Armes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Armes arms are recorded
The Armes arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Armes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Armes Family in England
The family name Armes has deep roots in the northern English city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, the name was likely linked to the trade and labor guilds that defined the economic life of the city. Families in York often took names based on their specific skills or the tools they used in their daily work, and the name Armes may have originated from a connection to metalworking or the production of equipment. By the seventeenth century, the Armes family was part of a growing urban middle class that helped sustain the local economy through craftsmanship and trade. Their presence in York suggests they were settled residents who contributed to the social fabric of one of England’s most historic northern hubs long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arma
Latin term referring to weapons, tools, or defensive equipment.
This name
ArmesA habitational or occupational name for a soldier or someone who carried weapons.
also spelled
Arme
Armez
Armis
Armess
Arms
Related arms
Armsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Galliot, Marcel, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1987
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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