A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cerise family of France.
Reg. 1531 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. au lion naiss. de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois étoiles d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. à un cerisier arr. de sin., fruité de gu.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Cerise Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cerise arms are recorded
The Cerise arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cerise 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 Cerise Family in France
The family name Cerise traces its roots back to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this coastal province. The name itself is derived from the French word for cherry, which suggests that the original ancestors may have lived near a prominent cherry orchard or perhaps worked as fruit growers. During the early eighteenth century, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities where surnames were tied to the local landscape or specific agricultural trades. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the unique cultural identity that defines this part of France. Over time, the name persisted through generations, marking the family as a long-standing part of the Breton population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cerasus
Latin term for a cherry tree.
This name
CeriseDerived from the French word for cherry, likely used as a topographic name or nickname.
also spelled
Serise
Seris
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, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
