A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broca family of France.
Reg. 5164 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un arbre sec de sa., terrassé de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Broca Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Broca arms are recorded
The Broca arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Broca 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Broca Family in France
The family name Broca traces its roots to the historic Languedoc region of southern France, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. The name is believed to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Occitan word "broca," which refers to a small branch, a thicket, or a pointed tool. In the rural landscape of the seventeenth century, such names were often given to families who lived near specific landmarks or worked in trades related to forestry and agriculture. By the mid-1600s, members of the Broca family were integrated into the local social fabric of Languedoc, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined this Mediterranean province. Over time, the family name spread through the region, reflecting the deep ties that many families maintained with their ancestral lands during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broccus
A Latin term referring to someone with projecting or prominent teeth.
This name
BrocaA topographic name for someone living near a thicket or brushwood.
also spelled
Broka
Brocaa
Broccaa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Aude, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boyer, Henri, Histoire de la langue d'oc, 1990
Nègre, Ernest, Toponymie générale de la France, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
