A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bryon family of France.
Reg. 6518 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a lion ramp. or, a chief of the last”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bryon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bryon arms are recorded
The Bryon 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 Bryon 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 Bryon Family in France
The family name Bryon 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 closely tied to the rural landscape and the social structures of the province. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit communities where their surname helped identify their local lineage and trade. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Bryon family became part of the regional history of Bretagne, likely contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the coastal territory. While the name evolved through various spellings over time, its presence in these early parish and civil records highlights a long-standing connection to the traditions and daily life of northwestern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biron
Derived from the Old French word for a small hill or mound.
This name
BryonA locational surname referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or elevated terrain.
also spelled
Bree-on
Bryon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B, Fonds de la juridiction de Bretagne
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Poter, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
