A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arrieta family of France.
Reg. 8497 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 la fasce d'or; à la bord. du premier, ch. de huit flanchis du sec.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Arrieta Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Arrieta arms are recorded
The Arrieta arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield 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 Arrieta 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 Navarre.
Origin & History of the Arrieta Family in France
The surname Arrieta originates from the Basque language, which is one of the oldest spoken languages in Europe. The name is derived from the Basque words "harri," meaning stone, and the suffix "eta," which indicates a place or a collection of things. Therefore, the name likely described a family that lived near a rocky area or a place with many stones. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Arrieta family were well-established in the region of Navarre. During this period, families in Navarre were often deeply connected to the land and local agricultural traditions. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Basque Country, where they lived as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials. The persistence of the name in regional records shows that the Arrieta family remained a stable and recognized part of the community for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Harri
Basque word meaning stone or rock.
This name
ArrietaA topographic name referring to a place abundant in stones or a rocky terrain.
also spelled
Arrietta
Arryeta
Arieta
Related arms
Irigoyenrecorded with Arrieta, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gorrochategui Churruca, Joaquín, Estudio sobre la onomástica indígena de Aquitania, 1984
Mendizábal, Luis, Apellidos vascos: origen y significado, 1995
Archivo General de Navarra, Sección de Protocolos Notariales, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
