Map of France showing where the Brissett arms are recorded
The Brissett arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Brissett 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Brissett Family in France
The surname Brissett has deep roots in the Orleanais region of France, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the root word suggests a connection to someone who was quick, energetic, or perhaps physically robust. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied to the land or specific trades, and the Brissett name appears in local parish registers that document the daily lives of farmers and craftsmen. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Loire Valley, navigating the challenges of life under the French monarchy. Over time, the name traveled beyond these regional borders, carried by individuals seeking new opportunities in other parts of France and eventually across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brise
to break or shatter
This name
Brissetta nickname for a person who was considered a breaker or crusher
also spelled
Broiset
Broisse
Broisay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Loiret, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Loiret, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
