A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coleridge family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0254 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
otterOne who lives life to the full
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. à une loutre pass. au nat., sur une terrasse de sin.; au chef de gu., ch. d'une colombe d'arg., entre deux croix pattées au pied fiché d'or. C.: une loutre au nat., pass. au pied d'une croix latine de gu., entourée d'épis au nat.; le tout soutenu d'un tertre de sin. S.: à dextre une loutre au nat., à sen. un lion de sa., coll. chacun d'une couronne de roses de gu. entremêlées de feuilles de sin. D.: QUALIS VITA, FINIS ITA.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Coleridge Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Coleridge arms are recorded
The Coleridge 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 Coleridge 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 Coleridge Family in France
The roots of the Coleridge name in France are tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where the family established a presence by 1725. During this period, the name was likely adapted to fit the local linguistic landscape as the family integrated into the social and economic life of the province. Many individuals with this surname were involved in the maritime and merchant activities that defined the ports of northwestern France. Their migration from the British Isles to the French coast suggests a history defined by trade connections and the movement of people across the English Channel. By settling in Bretagne, these early family members became part of a unique cultural exchange that blended their ancestral origins with the traditions of their new home. This transition highlights how families often navigated shifting borders and identities during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Bendy of six gu. and ar. a chief az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coleridge Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coleridge arms are recorded
The Coleridge arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Coleridge arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Coleridge Family in England
The surname Coleridge is a locative name, which means it originally described a person who lived near a specific geographical feature. Etymologists believe the name derives from the Old English words for a cold ridge or a hill exposed to the wind. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Coleridge family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern English hub. During this period, families often moved between regional centers to pursue trade or professional opportunities, and the presence of the name in York suggests that the lineage had successfully integrated into the urban landscape of the time. This transition from rural origins to established city life reflects the broader movement of English families seeking stability and growth in the years leading up to the English Civil War.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coleridge
Derived from the Old English words for coal and a ridge.
This name
ColeridgeRefers to a person who lived near a dark or coal-bearing mountain ridge.
also spelled
Coleridg
Coleridgge
Colridge
Colridg
Related arms
Colridgevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Coleridge, Ernest Hartley. The Life of Thomas Coutts, Banker. 1920
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Biographia Literaria. 1817
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives nationales de France, Série E: Familles
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
otterOne who lives life to the full
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
otterOne who lives life to the full
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
