A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Britz family of France.
Reg. 6071 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à une rose de gu.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or; au 4 d'or à trois cors-de-chasse de gu., l'embouchure à dextre. A une fasce de gu., br. sur l'écartelé et ch. d'une burelle d'arg. Sur le tout un écusson d'arg., bordé d'or, cour. du même, ch. de l'aigle de Prusse, tenant globe et sceptre et ch. sur sa poitrine du chiffre F R d'or. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion d'or, cour. du même, iss. par les genoux, tenant de sa patte dextre une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin.; 2° l'aigle du surtout; 3° un sauvage iss. de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant de sa main dextre une massue posée sur son épaule, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux griffons d'or, lamp. de gu.”
Francec. 1592
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Map of France showing where the Britz arms are recorded
The Britz arms were recorded in France, c. 1592.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Britz 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 Britz Family in France
The family name Britz carries a deep connection to the historical region of Bretagne in northwestern France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area as early as 1592. During this period, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and language. Families living in this region often worked in agriculture or maritime trades, as the rugged coastline and fertile inland fields shaped the daily lives of the local population. The name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals based on their geographic origins or their specific roles within their community. Over the following centuries, the family expanded their reach, moving through different parts of Europe while maintaining the linguistic roots that tied them back to their ancestral home in the west of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brictius
Derived from the Celtic word for speckled or spotted.
This name
BritzA locative or patronymic surname originating from the Saint Brictius of Tours.
also spelled
Barwits
Barvits
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Jones, Michael, The Creation of Brittany: A Late Medieval State, 1988
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
