Map of France showing where the Conger arms are recorded
The Conger 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 Conger 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 Conger Family in France
The history of the Conger family name is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name is widely believed to be a variation of the French surname Congard, which likely evolved as families migrated and phonetically adapted their names to new dialects. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural development, providing a stable environment for the family to establish its roots. As the family grew, some members eventually sought opportunities beyond the French borders, carrying their name and heritage across the Atlantic. This transition marked the beginning of the Conger lineage in North America, where the name became firmly established through generations of settlers who maintained their connection to their European origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
conger
Derived from the Latin conger meaning a type of sea eel.
This name
CongerAn occupational or descriptive surname likely referring to a fisherman or eel merchant.
also spelled
Concere
Conser
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
