A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barre family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's crossJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au saut. échancré de sa.”
The Barre arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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 Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Barre arms are first recorded.
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
The history of the Barre family in the Netherlands is deeply rooted in the northern province of Friesland, where records confirm their presence by 1815. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a topographical reference, as surnames during this period often evolved from nicknames or locations where a family lived. In the context of Frisian history, the Barre family would have lived through a time of significant transition as the region moved from the Napoleonic era into the establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. During these early years, the family members were part of a society that placed a high value on local identity and agricultural tradition. As the Dutch government began to formalize civil registration and standardized naming practices in the early nineteenth century, the Barre name became firmly documented within the local parish and municipal records of the province. This transition helped solidify their place in the regional history of Friesland, marking the beginning of their documented lineage in the Dutch landscape.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from aboveJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une barre d'arg.; au lion d'or, br. sur le tout, adextré d'un croiss. du même accosté de deux étoiles aussi d'or.”
The Barre arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Barre 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 Barre has deep roots in the historical province of Dauphiné, a rugged and mountainous region in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already well-established within this area. The name itself likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to people who lived near a barrier, a boundary, or a fortified gate. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked the land or engaged in local trade. Because Dauphiné served as a strategic gateway between the French kingdom and the Italian states, the people living there were often shaped by the constant movement of soldiers, merchants, and travelers. The Barre family would have been part of this resilient provincial society, navigating the challenges of life in the foothills of the Alps while maintaining their presence in the region for generations.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Paly of six ar. and sa. four bars gu”
The Barre 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.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Barre arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Barre has deep roots in the historical landscape of England, where it emerged as a distinct identifier long before the seventeenth century. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been shaped by centuries of linguistic evolution and regional migration. It likely originated as a topographical name, used to describe people who lived near a barrier, a gate, or a fenced enclosure. As families moved through the English countryside, these names became fixed as hereditary surnames. The presence of the Barre family in a major northern hub like York suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that helped define the social and economic life of the city during the early modern period. Through their participation in local trade and community governance, these early individuals helped establish the name as a lasting part of the English historical record.
A Germanic or Old French term referring to a gate or barrier.
