A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Claris family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9898 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à la fasce d'azur (Claris); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à la croix de sa. bordée d'arg., ch. en coeur d'un soleil d'or. C.: un miroir ovale d'arg., encadré d'or; entre un vol de sa. S.: deux griffons d'or.”
Francec. 1624
Where the Claris Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Claris arms are recorded
The Claris arms were recorded in France, c. 1624.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Claris 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 Claris Family in France
The history of the Claris family in France is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm their presence as early as 1624. During this period, the region was a distinct province with its own customs and social structures, often operating with a degree of independence from the central French monarchy. Families like the Claris were typically integrated into the local agricultural or artisanal communities that defined rural life in western France. Because the name likely evolved from regional linguistic roots, it reflects the transition from oral traditions to written documentation in parish registers. By living in Bretagne, these early family members were part of a maritime and land-based culture that placed a high value on local heritage and community ties. Their survival and growth in the seventeenth century suggest they were well-established members of the provincial population who navigated the shifting political and economic tides of the Ancien Régime.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
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 au croiss. d'arg., surm. d'une étoile d'or.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Claris Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Claris arms are recorded
The Claris arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in France when the Claris arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Claris Family in Spain
The name Claris carries a deep history rooted in the Iberian Peninsula, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region of Castile by the year 1722. During this era, Castile served as the political and cultural heart of Spain, and families living there were often involved in the complex administrative and agricultural systems of the Spanish Crown. The name itself likely evolved from Latin roots related to clarity or brightness, a common naming convention used to denote a person of distinction or a clear-minded individual within a local community. As the family established their presence in the Castilian landscape, they became part of the social fabric of a changing nation that was transitioning through the early modern period. By settling in this central region, the early Claris family members were positioned at the crossroads of trade and governance, which allowed them to integrate into the local society of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clarus
Latin word meaning clear, bright, or famous.
This name
ClarisDerived from the Latin term for someone who is bright, shining, or illustrious.
also spelled
Clarys
Clary
Klaris
Related arms
Claryvariant 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, 1624
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
