A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brière family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8639 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'or au lion de gu., enclos dans un trècheur de sa.; au chef échiq. d'azur et d'arg. de trois tires.”
Ile-de-FranceIle-de-France, c. 1663
Where the Brière Arms Were Recorded
Ile-de-France
Map of France showing where the Brière arms are recorded
The Brière arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Brière 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Brière Family in France
The surname Brière is rooted in the landscape of medieval France, deriving from the Old French word *briere*, which referred to a thicket or a place where heather and briars grew. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near or worked upon land defined by such wild, thorny vegetation. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Brière family were well-established in the Île-de-France region, the historic heartland surrounding Paris. During this period, the family was part of the social fabric of a kingdom transitioning under the rule of Louis XIV. Their presence in this central province indicates that they were likely involved in the agricultural or artisanal life that supported the growing influence of the French capital. Over time, the name evolved from a simple geographical descriptor into a distinct family identity that persisted through generations of French history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur gu.; au lion coupé d'or sur arg., br. sur le tout et soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.”
GenevoisGenevois, c. 1745
Where the Brière Arms Were Recorded
Map of Switzerland showing where the Brière arms are recorded
The Brière arms were recorded in Genevois, c. 1745.
Genevois was Alpine country south of Geneva, held in small estates by families who stayed put. Land there passed down the same line for centuries, and long tenure counted for more than wealth.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Genevois.
Origin & History of the Brière Family in Switzerland
The surname Brière has deep roots in the Francophone regions of Switzerland, particularly within the historic territory of the Genevois. By 1745, records confirm that members of the Brière family were well-established in this area, living among the communities near the border of modern-day France and Switzerland. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "bruyère," which refers to a type of heath or shrubland. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near or worked on land covered in these hardy plants. As these families settled in the Genevois, they integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the region. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in the local parish records, marking the family as a stable part of the rural population that helped shape the identity of the Geneva countryside during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bruyère
a low-growing evergreen shrub often found on heathland
This name
Brièrea topographic name for someone who lived near a heath or thicket of heather
also spelled
Bryere
Brierre
Breear
Brier
Related arms
Brettevillesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series Y
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
