A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brecher family of France.
Reg. 3137 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la bande d'azur, ch. d'une étoile du champ; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une rose de gu., bout. d'or, barbée de sin. A un coeur de gu., cour. d'or, br. sur les écartelures. Cq. cour. C.: une femme iss., hab de gu., chevelée d'or, cour. de roses d'arg. et de gu., la tête sommée d'une queue de paon au nat.”
Francec. 1716
Where the Brecher Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Brecher arms are recorded
The Brecher arms were recorded in France, c. 1716.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Brecher 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 Brecher Family in France
The family name Brecher has deep roots that connect to the unique cultural landscape of northwestern France. By the year 1716, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne. Historically, the name is often associated with the German word for a flax breaker, which was a person who processed raw plant fibers into linen. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely worked as skilled laborers or tradespeople in the textile industry. As these individuals moved across borders and settled in new territories, they carried their occupational identity with them, eventually solidifying it as a permanent family surname. This transition from a job title to a hereditary name reflects the way many families in the eighteenth century established their identity within their local communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brechen
A Germanic verb meaning to break or to fracture.
This name
BrecherAn occupational surname for a flax breaker or someone who processed raw materials.
also spelled
Breker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
