A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Combret family of France.
Reg. 0525 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
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)
“De sa. au chev. d'arg.”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1663
Where the Combret Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Combret arms are recorded
The Combret arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Combret 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Combret Family in France
The family name Combret originates from the rugged and mountainous Auvergne region of central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, likely living as farmers or local tradespeople who relied on the land for their livelihood. The name itself is thought to be topographical, meaning it was likely derived from the local landscape or a specific place name where the family first settled. In the seventeenth century, life in Auvergne was shaped by the challenging terrain of the Massif Central, which encouraged families to remain in their ancestral villages for generations. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local history of the French countryside during a time of significant change under the monarchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Combretum
A Latin term referring to a climbing plant or shrub.
This name
CombretA topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket or a place where climbing plants grew.
also spelled
Combre
Kombray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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