Map of France showing where the Barraza arms are recorded
The Barraza 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 Barraza 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 Barraza Family in France
The Barraza family name has deep roots that trace back to the rugged landscapes of the Brittany region in France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this coastal area. The name itself is often linked to the Basque language, where it is thought to describe a person who lived near a specific type of rocky or barren terrain. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, moving through the small towns and rural parishes that defined life in seventeenth-century France. Over time, the name traveled far beyond its original borders, carried by individuals who migrated to new lands and integrated into different cultures while keeping their ancestral identity intact.
Barraza Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Barra
A Celtic or Basque term referring to a gate, barrier, or boundary.
This name
BarrazaA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a gate or a fenced enclosure.
also spelled
Barres
Barre
Bare
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Mollat du Jourdin, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
