A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cerney family of France.
Reg. 3733 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un cerf d'or.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Cerney Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cerney arms are recorded
The Cerney 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 Cerney 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 Cerney Family in France
The family name Cerney finds its historical roots in the region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language traditions. Families living in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trade, reflecting the rugged coastal geography of the region. The name likely evolved as a local identifier, helping to distinguish specific households within the tight-knit rural communities of the time. As these early ancestors navigated life in a period of significant social and political change, they helped establish a lineage that remained deeply connected to the cultural identity of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cernay
Derived from the Gallo-Roman personal name Cernus plus the suffix -acum.
This name
CerneyA topographic or habitational name referring to someone from a place characterized by oak trees or alder.
also spelled
Cernay
Sernay
Sernee
Related arms
Sernayvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Croix, Alain, La Bretagne aux 16e et 17e siècles: la vie, la mort, la foi, 1984
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1905
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
