A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broglie family of France.
Reg. 5212 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or au saut. ancré d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: un cygne iss. ayant un saut. de l'écu (ou un écusson aux armes de l'écu) suspendu à son col, au moyen d'un ruban de gu. S.: deux lions reg. d'or, cour. du même, lamp. de gu. D.: POUR L'AVENIR. Manteau d'or semé de sautoirs ancrés d'azur, doublé d'herm., sommé de la couronne princière.”
Francec. 1742
Where the Broglie Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Broglie arms are recorded
The Broglie arms were recorded in France, c. 1742.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Broglie 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 Broglie Family in France
The Broglie family traces its roots back to the Piedmont region of Italy, where they were originally known by the name Broglia. During the seventeenth century, the family moved to France and began to rise in political and military prominence. By the time they established a presence in the Brittany region of France in the mid-eighteenth century, they had already become deeply integrated into the French nobility. The family name evolved from its Italian origins to the French spelling of Broglie as they gained influence within the royal court. Their history is defined by a long tradition of service to the French crown, particularly through high-ranking roles in the military and government. This transition from Italian origins to becoming a staple of the French aristocracy highlights their ability to adapt and thrive across different European borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broglio
A small marshy area or a cultivated orchard plot.
This name
BroglieDerived from a Piedmontese place name referring to a swampy or wooded enclosure.
also spelled
Broglio
Brolie
Broglier
Brolee
Related arms
Brölievariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Petitfils, Jean-Christian, Louis XVI, 2005
Broglie, Gabriel de, Le nom de Broglie, 2000
Archives nationales, Fonds de la maison de Broglie (série 189 AP)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
