A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Conen family of France.
Reg. 9394 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu.; au lion de l'un en l'autre, arm., lamp. et cour. de gu. D.: QUI EST SOT, A SON DAM.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Conen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Conen arms are recorded
The Conen 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 Conen 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 Conen Family in France
The family name Conen has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1663. The name is believed to be a variation of the ancient Breton name Conan, which was historically associated with nobility and leadership in the region. During the seventeenth century, families in Brittany often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked as landowners or skilled tradespeople. Because the name was tied to the local language and culture of the area, it remained concentrated in western France for many generations. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, participating in the local parish life and regional administration that defined life in Brittany during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Conan
Derived from the Celtic word for hound or wolf.
This name
ConenA patronymic surname originating from the Breton personal name meaning little hound or little warrior.
also spelled
Conin
Related arms
Coenenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
