Map of France showing where the Blevins arms are recorded
The Blevins 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Blevins 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Blevins Family in France
The Blevins family name traces its roots back to the coastal region of Bretagne in northwestern France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1663. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Breton people, who maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity separate from the rest of France. Over the following generations, families from this region began to migrate across the Atlantic to seek new opportunities in the American colonies. As they settled into different communities, the spelling of the name often shifted to match the phonetic pronunciation used by English speakers. This transition helped the family integrate into their new surroundings while still preserving their ancestral connection to the rugged landscape of their French origins.
Blevins Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bleidd
A Welsh term referring to a wolf.
This name
BlevinsDerived from a nickname for a person with the characteristics of a wolf.
also spelled
Blevyn
Blevins
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Ogée, Jean, Dictionnaire historique et géographique de la province de Bretagne, 1778
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
