A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cerdan family of France.
Reg. 0582 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à deux bâtons alésés d'or, passés en saut.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un loup pass. de sa.”
FranceTudela Navarre, c. 1663
Where the Cerdan Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cerdan arms are recorded
The Cerdan arms were recorded in Tudela Navarre, 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 Cerdan 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 Cerdan Family in France
The family name Cerdan traces its roots back to the rugged landscapes of Western Europe, with documented evidence placing the family in the region of Bretagne by the year 1663. During this period, the name was likely associated with families living in rural communities where local records began to track births, marriages, and deaths more consistently. Many families in Bretagne at this time were deeply connected to the land and the maritime traditions of the coast. The name itself may have evolved from regional dialects or geographic markers that identified where a person lived or what trade they practiced. As the family established itself in this province, they became part of the social fabric of the seventeenth century, living through a time of significant cultural and political change in France. By settling in Bretagne, the early members of the Cerdan family contributed to the long history of a region known for its strong identity and enduring traditions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cerdanya
A historical region in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.
This name
CerdanRefers to a person who originated from the Cerdanya region.
also spelled
Serdan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Gall, Jean-Marie, Les Bretons et leur histoire, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
wolfReward from long service and hard work
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
wolfReward from long service and hard work
