A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burnet family of France.
Reg. 5413 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à trois étoiles d'arg.; au chef du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Burnet Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Burnet arms are recorded
The Burnet 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 Burnet 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 Burnet Family in France
The family name Burnet has roots that stretch back to the medieval period, often linked to the Old French word "brun," which describes someone with brown hair or a dark complexion. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Bretagne in France. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Burnet family were active participants in the local society of this coastal province. During this era, families in Bretagne were often deeply connected to the land and the local administrative systems of the French crown. As the family moved through history, they maintained their identity while adapting to the shifting social and political landscapes of Western Europe. Their presence in Bretagne during the 1660s serves as a clear starting point for tracing their movement and influence across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brun
A Germanic term meaning brown or dark-colored.
This name
BurnetA diminutive form referring to someone with brown hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Burnett
Bournet
Burnit
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Morvan, Frédéric, La Bretagne féodale, 2010
Ploix, Charles, Étude sur les noms de famille en Bretagne, 1898
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
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
