A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bron family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8471 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 chev. de gu., acc. de trois perroquets de sin.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Bron Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Bron arms are recorded
The Bron arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Bron 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Bron Family in France
The family name Bron has deep roots in the historical province of Forez, located in the central part of France. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, which was known for its rugged landscape and strong agricultural traditions. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term, as the word "bron" was often used in local dialects to describe someone with a dark or swarthy complexion. Families in this era were deeply tied to the land they worked, and the Bron name became a fixture in the local parish registers as they moved through generations of rural life. Because the Forez region was a crossroads for trade and migration, the family likely experienced the shifting social changes of the French countryside while maintaining their presence in the area for centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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, ar. and sa. four leopards' heads counterchanged”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Bron Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Bron arms are recorded
The Bron arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Bron arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Bron Family in Wales
The surname Bron has deep roots in the rugged landscape of North Wales, where the family established a notable presence in the town of Denbigh by the mid-seventeenth century. During this era, Denbigh served as a vital administrative and market center, and the presence of the Bron family suggests they were integrated into the local social fabric of the Vale of Clwyd. The name itself is thought to derive from the Welsh word *bron*, which translates to a breast or a rounded hillside, reflecting the common practice of naming families after the specific geographical features of their ancestral lands. By 1647, the family was well-positioned within the local community, living through a period of significant political upheaval as the aftermath of the English Civil War reshaped Welsh society. Their survival and stability in Denbigh during these turbulent years point to a family that was deeply connected to the local agricultural and civic life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brunn
Old High German term referring to a spring, well, or fountain.
This name
BronA topographic surname for someone who lived near a spring or water source.
also spelled
Bronn
Brone
Bronne
Bronnse
Broone
Related arms
Broonevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Forez
Gonon, Marguerite, La vie quotidienne en Forez au XVIIe siècle, 1960
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
lionCourage, strength and royalty
