A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clerici family of France.
Reg. 2200 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
columnFortitude and constancy
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la fasce de sa., acc. en chef d'une aigle ép. du même, surm. d'une couronne impériale, et en p. d'un chev. aussi de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à deux colonnes accostées d'arg., entourées de deux listels dont le premier porte les mots NON PLUS et le second le mot ULTRA. Manteau de gu., doublé d'herm., sommé d'une couronne princière.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Clerici Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Clerici arms are recorded
The Clerici 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 Clerici 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 Clerici Family in France
The surname Clerici is deeply rooted in the Latin word *clericus*, which originally referred to a member of the clergy or a learned scholar. During the Middle Ages, this name was often given to individuals who served in administrative roles or as scribes, as these were the few people in society who possessed the ability to read and write. By the time the family established a documented presence in the Bretagne region of France in 1725, the name had evolved from a professional title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families bearing this name were often integrated into local community life, serving as record keepers or educated professionals who helped manage the legal and religious affairs of their parishes. This transition from a vocational description to a formal family name highlights the importance of literacy and education in the social structure of eighteenth-century France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clericus
A Latin term referring to a member of the clergy or scholar.
This name
ClericiAn occupational surname for a clerk, scribe, or a member of the religious order.
also spelled
Clericy
Clerich
Clerichee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
columnFortitude and constancy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
columnFortitude and constancy
