Map of France showing where the Codner arms are recorded
The Codner 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 Codner 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 Codner Family in France
The family name Codner carries a history deeply rooted in the coastal regions of northwestern France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the Codner family were established in the province of Bretagne. During this period, the region was defined by its strong maritime culture and its unique linguistic heritage. Families living in this area often relied on the sea for their livelihood, working as sailors, merchants, or shipbuilders. The name likely evolved from local occupational terms or descriptive nicknames common to the Breton population. As these early family members navigated the social and economic changes of the eighteenth century, they helped shape the local communities where they resided. Their presence in Bretagne reflects a long-standing connection to the rugged landscape and the Atlantic trade routes that defined the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caudron
Old French term for a maker or seller of copper cauldrons.
This name
CodnerAn occupational surname for a metalworker who specialized in crafting large cooking vessels.
also spelled
Kotoner
Cotonner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Archives de la justice seigneuriale)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Documents notariés et généalogiques)
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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