A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brocas family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3122 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois étoiles d'azur, rangées en bande; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à deux paires de tenailles d'or, en pals, accostées.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Brocas Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Brocas arms are recorded
The Brocas arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought 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 Brocas 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Brocas Family in France
The history of the Brocas family in France is deeply rooted in the region of Guyenne, where the name appears in official records as early as the seventeenth century. During this period, the family established itself within the local social structure of southwestern France, a territory that had long been shaped by complex shifts in power and land ownership. The name itself is thought to be topographical, likely derived from the Gascon word for a thicket or a wooded area, which suggests that the earliest ancestors were connected to the rural landscape of the Gascony countryside. By 1663, members of the family were documented as established residents in this area, participating in the administrative and agricultural life of their community. This early presence in Guyenne highlights a family that was well-integrated into the regional traditions and the evolving political landscape of the French provinces during the reign of Louis XIV.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sa. a lion ramp. guard. or; 2nd and 3rd, sa. two lions pass. guard. or, for ROCHES”
HantsHigh Sheriff · Hants, c. 1416
Where the Brocas Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Brocas arms are recorded
The Brocas arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1416.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
Henry V of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry V of England
1413–1422
Reigning in France when the Brocas arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hants.
Origin & History of the Brocas Family in England
The Brocas family name first gained prominence in England during the fourteenth century, establishing deep roots that eventually led to their significant presence in Hampshire by 1416. The family originally arrived from the region of Gascony in France, serving as loyal supporters of the English monarchy during the Hundred Years' War. Because of their military service and administrative roles, they were granted extensive estates, most notably at Beaurepaire in Hampshire. This transition from continental soldiers to landed English gentry allowed the family to integrate into the local political landscape. By the early fifteenth century, members of the Brocas family were well-established figures in regional governance, holding positions of influence that helped them maintain their status for several generations. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who migrated across the English Channel to build new lives through service to the crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broca
Derived from the Old Occitan word for a thorn or brushwood.
This name
BrocasA topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket or thorny area.
also spelled
Brokass
Broccas
Brokace
Brokas
Brokays
Related arms
Brockasvariant spelling
Gourneyrecorded with Brocas, same area
Pagerecorded with Brocas, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série E (Dépôt de la famille de Brocas)
Baudet, Henri, Histoire de la Gascogne, 1952
Durengues, Abbé, Pouillé historique du diocèse d'Agen, 1894
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
