A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bry family of France.
Reg. 3418 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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)
“Ec. d'arg. plein, et de gu. à une rose tigée et feuillée, le tout au nat.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bry Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bry arms are recorded
The Bry 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 Bry 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 Bry Family in France
The family name Bry traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old French or regional dialects referring to a specific type of marshy land or a muddy clearing. Families during this period often adopted surnames based on the landscape they inhabited or farmed, which helped distinguish them in growing rural communities. As the family lived in Bretagne, they were part of a distinct cultural landscape defined by its unique language and traditions. Over the following centuries, the name persisted as the family moved through various parishes, maintaining a connection to the geography of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brie
A geographical region in northern France known for its marshy terrain.
This name
BryA topographic name for someone who lived in or originated from the Brie region.
also spelled
Brie
Bree
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
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
