A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bommer family of France.
Reg. 1356 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., acc. de trois têtes de lézard du même.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Bommer Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Bommer arms are recorded
The Bommer arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Bommer 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Bommer Family in France
The surname Bommer has roots that trace back to early Germanic and Northern European naming traditions, often associated with individuals who worked as tree fellers or foresters. By the mid-17th century, members of the family had crossed the Atlantic to establish themselves in the rugged landscape of colonial Maine. Records confirm their presence in the region as early as 1663, a time when settlers were carving out homesteads along the harsh and unpredictable coastline. These early ancestors were part of a small group of pioneers who navigated the challenges of frontier life, including difficult winters and the complex political tensions of the era. Their decision to settle in Maine suggests a family history defined by resilience, manual labor, and a willingness to adapt to the demands of a new wilderness.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonhomme
A compound of good and man referring to a kind person.
This name
BommerA topographical or occupational surname derived from a nickname for a good-natured individual.
also spelled
Bomer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660. 1908
Maine State Archives. York Deeds, Volume I. 1887
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
