A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barthe family of France.
Reg. 3237 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. au soleil d'or; au 2 d'or à trois roses de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Barthe Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Barthe arms are recorded
The Barthe 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 Barthe 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 Barthe Family in France
The surname Barthe is rooted in the linguistic landscape of medieval France, where it originated as a topographic name. In the Occitan language, the word "barta" refers to a thicket, a patch of scrubland, or a marshy area covered in brush. Families who took this name likely lived near such a landscape, which served as a natural landmark for their community. By the mid-seventeenth century, the name had spread across various regions of France, including the province of Bretagne. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Barthe family were well-established in this coastal region, where they integrated into the local social and agricultural life. As the family grew, they moved through different parishes, leaving behind traces in baptismal and marriage registers that document their transition from rural landowners to active participants in provincial society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barta
An Occitan term referring to a thicket, brushwood, or marshy land.
This name
BartheA topographic surname for someone who lived near a thicket or dense woodland area.
also spelled
Barth
Barthee
Bart
Related arms
Barthvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
