A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broon family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8966 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au croiss. d'or, acc. de six étoiles du même, rangées en orie.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Broon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Broon arms are recorded
The Broon arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Broon 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Broon Family in France
The family name Broon finds its early roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During this period, the region was a distinct cultural hub with its own language and traditions that set it apart from the rest of France. Families in this area often lived in close-knit rural communities, focusing on agriculture and maritime trade along the Atlantic coast. The name likely evolved as a local identifier, reflecting the specific linguistic patterns of the Breton people who maintained strong ties to their Celtic heritage despite the growing influence of the French crown. By settling in this province, the early Broon family became part of a resilient population that navigated the complex social and political shifts of seventeenth-century France. This historical presence in Bretagne suggests that the family was deeply integrated into the local parish life, which served as the primary center for recording births, marriages, and deaths during that era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a cross ar. fretty gu”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Broon Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Broon arms are recorded
The Broon arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in France when the Broon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Broon Family in Scotland
The name Broon is a traditional Scots variant of the name Brown, reflecting the unique linguistic evolution of the Lowlands. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the bustling urban environment of Edinburgh. During this era, the city was undergoing a period of rapid social and economic transition as it moved toward the Scottish Enlightenment. Families like the Broons were often integrated into the city’s growing professional and merchant classes, contributing to the local economy and civic life. Because the name is derived from the Old English word for the color brown, it likely originated as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor’s physical appearance or clothing. Over generations, this name became a permanent fixture in the parish registers and legal documents of Scotland’s capital, marking the family as a steady presence in the heart of the nation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brun
A Germanic term referring to the color brown or dark-colored.
This name
BroonA descriptive nickname for an individual with brown hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Broone
Broons
Bron
Broun
Brown
Related arms
Brohonvariant spelling
Bronevariant spelling
Bronnsevariant spelling
Brounvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Goff, Jacques, La Bretagne et les Bretons, 1978
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
cross symbolChristian faith and service
