A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bridé family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9332 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'arg. au lion de sa., acc. en chef à dextre d'un croiss. d'azur, à sen. une étoile du même, et en p. d'une étoile de gu.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bridé Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bridé arms are recorded
The Bridé 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 Bridé 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 Bridé Family in France
The family name Bridé has deep roots in the historical province of Brittany, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During this period, Brittany functioned as a distinct region with its own local customs and social structures, often operating with a degree of independence from the central French crown. Families like the Bridés were typically tied to the land and the local parish system, which served as the primary way for people to track births, marriages, and deaths. Given the geography of the region, it is likely that early ancestors were involved in agricultural life or maritime trades that defined the coastal economy of western France. As the name appears in parish registers from the seventeenth century, it suggests that the family was part of the established rural population that helped maintain the cultural identity of the Breton people during a time of significant transition in French history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a fesse betw. three martlets sa. on a canton gu. a cross pattée of the field”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bridé Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bridé arms are recorded
The Bridé arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Bridé arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Bridé Family in England
The family name Bridé carries a history that reflects the social shifts of seventeenth-century England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the center of a bustling urban environment. The name itself likely evolved from occupational or descriptive roots common in Northern England, where linguistic patterns often blended local dialects with older naming traditions. As the family settled into the city, they became part of the local fabric, navigating the religious and political changes that defined the early Stuart era. Their presence in such a prominent city suggests they were likely involved in the merchant classes or skilled trades that supported the regional economy of Yorkshire. Over time, the family name persisted as a marker of their deep roots in this northern landscape, linking their identity to the long-standing heritage of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brid
Old French term for a bridle or a restraint for horses.
This name
BridéAn occupational name for a maker or seller of bridles and horse harnesses.
also spelled
Breeday
Briday
Bryde
Bryd
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
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
