A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cey family of France.
Reg. 0784 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à trois demi-vols d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Cey Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cey arms are recorded
The Cey 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 Cey 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 Cey Family in France
The family name Cey traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and a strong maritime culture. Families living in this area often relied on the land or the sea for their livelihoods, and those named Cey were likely part of the local rural or artisan communities that helped shape the region. The name itself may have evolved from local dialects or geographic markers common to the Breton landscape. As the family grew, they remained connected to the traditions of their home province, contributing to the long history of the people who inhabited the rugged coastlines and inland villages of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cé
Derived from the Latin name Caecus meaning blind or dim-sighted.
This name
CeyA locative surname referring to individuals originating from the commune of Cey in France.
also spelled
Sey
Say
Related arms
Seyvariant spelling
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
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Ploix de Rotrou, Georges, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles de Bretagne, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
