A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blaine family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De vair au croiss. de gu.”
The Blaine arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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.
Reigning in France when the Blaine 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 Blaine has deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, which is known as Bretagne in French. Records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area by 1663. The name is believed to have evolved from ancient linguistic traditions in western France, likely serving as a descriptive term for early ancestors who lived in the rugged coastal landscape. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trade, which helped them build strong community connections. As the family grew, they moved through the various parishes of Brittany, leaving behind traces in local civil and religious registers that document their daily lives and social standing. This history reflects the broader movement of families across the French countryside during a time of significant cultural development.
A Celtic deity associated with light and the sun.
