A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crew family of France.
Reg. 2527 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au lion d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une patte de lion d'arg., onglée de gu., posée en pal. S.: à dextre un lion d'arg., orné d'un collier d'azur ch. de trois roses d'or; à sen. un griffon de sa., bq. et arm. d'or, ailé d'arg.”
Francec. 1661
Where the Crew Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Crew arms are recorded
The Crew arms were recorded in France, c. 1661.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Crew 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 Crew Family in France
The surname Crew has roots that stretch back to the medieval period in England, where it was often used as a topographic name for people living near a weir or a river crossing. While the name is firmly established in British history, members of the family also appear in the historical records of Bretagne, France, as early as 1661. During the seventeenth century, the movement of families across the English Channel was common due to trade, religious shifts, and political instability. The presence of the family in Bretagne suggests that these ancestors were likely part of a network of merchants or expatriates who maintained connections between the two regions. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as it moved across different linguistic landscapes, yet it remained a consistent identifier for families who were often involved in local administration or land management.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Creux
A hollow, cavity, or depression in the landscape.
This name
CrewRefers to someone who lived in a hollow or a low-lying area.
also spelled
Krew
Kru
Crewe
Crewse
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Guillotin de Corson, Amédée, Pouillé historique de l'archevêché de Rennes, 1880
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
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
