Map of France showing where the Berreth arms are recorded
The Berreth 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 Berreth 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 Berreth Family in France
The Berreth family name finds its historical roots in the region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the social structures of the local parish communities. Families in this part of France often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural villages where they worked the land and participated in the local church. As the name moved through generations, it likely evolved in spelling due to the way local clerks recorded names based on how they sounded in the regional dialect. The presence of the family in Bretagne suggests they were part of the traditional social fabric of the province, living through a time of significant cultural and political change in western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bera
A Germanic element meaning bear.
This name
BerrethA locative or patronymic surname derived from the Germanic word for bear.
also spelled
Berthe
Bertht
Berthh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
