Map of France showing where the Corwin arms are recorded
The Corwin arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Corwin 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 Corwin Family in France
The family name Corwin has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. The name is believed to have evolved from local linguistic traditions in northwestern France, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the Breton people. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land and local trade, living through a period of significant social change under the French monarchy. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of village life, contributing to the agricultural and maritime traditions that defined the coastal communities of the era. By tracking these early records, we can see how the Corwin name persisted through generations, moving from small parish registries into the broader history of the region.
Corwin Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Corvus
Latin word meaning raven or crow.
This name
CorwinDerived from a nickname for a person with dark hair or a sharp-eyed nature.
also spelled
Korwin
Corwyn
Curwin
Related arms
Korwinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Gall, Jean, La vie quotidienne en Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1985
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
