A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cloarec family of France.
Reg. 9267 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'or à la croix de gu., ch. de cinq merlettes d'arg.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Cloarec Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cloarec arms are recorded
The Cloarec arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Cloarec 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Cloarec Family in France
The surname Cloarec originates from the Brittany region of France and is deeply rooted in the Breton language. The name is derived from the word *kloareg*, which historically referred to a young man who was studying for the priesthood or acting as a clerk within the church. Because the Catholic Church played a central role in village life during the seventeenth century, individuals associated with these clerical duties often became known by this title. By 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the rural parishes of Brittany. These early ancestors were typically farmers or tradespeople who lived in close-knit communities where their family identity was tied to both their local parish and their traditional role as literate members of society. Over time, the name transitioned from a professional description into a permanent hereditary surname that has been passed down through generations in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kloareg
Breton word for a member of the clergy or a monk.
This name
CloarecAn occupational surname originally used to identify a monk or a cleric.
also spelled
Cloareck
Kloarec
Cloare
Kloarek
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Les noms de lieux bretons, 1975
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
