A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berrie family of France.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à la bande d'or.”
The Berrie arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Berrie 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 Berrie has deep roots in the historical province of Poitou, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, Poitou was a region defined by its agricultural landscape and a complex social structure that shaped the lives of its inhabitants. Families like the Berries often lived in rural communities where they were tied to the land and local parish life. As the seventeenth century progressed, the name became associated with the distinct cultural traditions of western France. Many families from this area eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, carrying their name and heritage into different parts of the world. The history of the Berrie name reflects the resilience of those who navigated the social and political changes of early modern France.
A Germanic element meaning bear or a strong, brave warrior.
