A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ars family of France.
cinquefoilHope and joyJ. 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.”
The Ars arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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.
Reigning in France when the Ars arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Ars has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1663. During this period, the name was likely tied to the rugged landscape of western France, where families often took surnames based on their local geography or specific landmarks near their homes. In the Breton language, the term "ars" or similar variations sometimes referred to rocky outcrops or specific types of coastal terrain common to the peninsula. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the unique culture of the region. By living in Bretagne during the seventeenth century, the family would have experienced the distinct traditions and linguistic heritage that set this part of France apart from the rest of the kingdom.
Derived from the Latin word arsum meaning burnt or scorched land.
