A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broy family of France.
Reg. 7655 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
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)
“Erm. a lion ramp. purp. crowned or”
Francec. 1663
Where the Broy Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Broy arms are recorded
The Broy arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Broy 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 Broy Family in France
The family name Broy has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was likely tied to the rural landscape and the specific linguistic traditions of the Breton people. Many families in this area were involved in agriculture or maritime trades, which helped them build stable lives within their local parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their villages, often appearing in church registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant cultural identity in Brittany, maintaining their traditions while contributing to the development of their local communities. By remaining in the region for generations, the Broy family helped preserve their history in the official documentation of the French crown and local religious institutions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broil
Old French term referring to a thicket or brushwood.
This name
BroyA topographic name for someone who lived near a dense thicket or wooded area.
also spelled
Broie
Broey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Poterie, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1978
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
