Map of France showing where the Cyr arms are recorded
The Cyr 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 Cyr 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 Cyr Family in France
The family name Cyr traces its roots back to the historic region of Brittany in northwestern France. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family were well established in this coastal area, which was known for its strong maritime traditions and distinct cultural identity. In 1663, a notable ancestor named Pierre Cyr departed from this region to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America. He eventually settled in the area that is now known as Acadia, which spans parts of modern-day Canada and Maine. As one of the early pioneers in the New World, Pierre Cyr helped establish a lasting legacy for the name in North America. Over the following generations, the family grew and spread across the continent, adapting to life in a new land while maintaining the memory of their French origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cyriacus
Derived from the Greek word kyriakos meaning of the Lord.
This name
CyrA French habitational or patronymic surname originating from the veneration of Saint Cyriacus.
also spelled
Kyre
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arsenault, Bona. Histoire et généalogie des Acadiens. 1978
White, Stephen A. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes. 1999
Library and Archives Canada. Recensement de 1671 en Acadie
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
