Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à quatre fasces de sa.; au lion de gu., br. sur le tout.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Briede family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à quatre fasces de sa.; au lion de gu., br. sur le tout.”

The Briede arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
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 Briede carries a deep history rooted in the coastal landscape of Bretagne, France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of this family were already established in the region, likely living as part of the local agrarian or maritime communities. The name itself is thought to be a regional variation linked to older linguistic roots found in Western Europe, often associated with individuals who lived near specific landmarks or held certain roles within their village. During the early eighteenth century, life in Bretagne was defined by strong local traditions and a distinct cultural identity that separated the region from the rest of the country. Families like the Briedes were essential to the social fabric of these rural parishes, contributing to the development of the local economy through farming and trade. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their presence in the area, reflecting a long lineage of people who helped shape the history of the Breton countryside.
Derived from the Celtic word for high, exalted, or noble.
