A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berrien family of France.
Reg. 6389 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à trois échelles en barres de sa.; au 2 d'arg. à un écureuil assis au nat.; au 3 d'arg. à un arbre de sin.; au 4 d'arg. à trois arbres de sin.”
FranceHoll, c. 1663
Where the Berrien Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Berrien arms are recorded
The Berrien arms were recorded in Holl, 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 Berrien 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 Berrien Family in France
The Berrien family name finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, a region in northwestern France known for its distinct cultural heritage. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area as early as 1663, living within a society deeply connected to the land and local parish life. The name itself is likely topographic, derived from the Breton language, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have been identified by the specific location or village where they resided. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often maintained strong ties to their ancestral parishes, where life revolved around seasonal agriculture and community traditions. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Brittany, eventually contributing to the broader history of the region through their presence in local administrative and church records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berin
Derived from the Germanic element ber meaning bear.
This name
BerrienA locative surname referring to someone from the town of Berrien in Brittany.
Related arms
Baesjourecorded with Berrien, same area
Beaujonrecorded with Berrien, same area
Boessesrecorded with Berrien, same area
Fraissinetrecorded with Berrien, same area
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, 1663
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
