A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brossard family of France.
Reg. 0158 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à trois bandes de gu.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Brossard Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Brossard arms are recorded
The Brossard arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Brossard 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Brossard Family in France
The Brossard name originates from the French word brosse, which historically referred to a thicket or a patch of brushwood. People who lived near these dense areas or worked as brush cutters often adopted this name as a way to identify their home or trade. By the mid-17th century, members of the family had crossed the Atlantic to participate in the colonization of North America. Records confirm that individuals bearing the Brossard name were established in the region of Maine by 1663. These early settlers were likely part of the French expansion into Acadia, where they lived as pioneers in a challenging wilderness. Their presence in the coastal areas of Maine highlights the family's role in the early maritime and frontier history of the continent.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brosse
A brush or thicket of small trees and shrubs.
This name
BrossardA topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket or brushwood.
also spelled
Brossart
Brossards
Brosar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Library and Archives Canada, Recensement de la Nouvelle-France
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
