A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Combourg family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec. d'arg. et de gu.”
The Combourg 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.
Reigning in France when the Combourg arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Combourg finds its roots in the historic region of Brittany, France. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, specifically appearing in documents dated to 1663. The name itself is closely tied to the town of Combourg, which is famous for its ancient castle that served as a strategic military stronghold during the Middle Ages. Families who took the name of a specific location often did so to signify their connection to the land or their status as local landowners. Over time, the name became a marker of their regional identity as they lived and worked within the distinct cultural landscape of Brittany. This connection to the geography of the region helped define the family history for generations as they navigated the social and political changes of the French provinces.
A place for doves or a dovecote.
