A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dacre family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0030 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois coquilles d'arg. C.: un tigre iss., au nat., coll. d'une couronne, enchaîné d'or; ou: un boeuf arrêté de gu. D.: FORT EN LOYAUTE”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dacre Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dacre arms are recorded
The Dacre arms were recorded in France, 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 Dacre 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 Dacre Family in France
The history of the Dacre name in France is deeply tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm the family was established by the year 1725. During this period, the name was closely associated with the social and economic structures of the Breton countryside, often appearing in local parish registers that documented the daily lives of families living near the Atlantic coast. While the name is sometimes linked to older roots in northern England, the French branch developed its own distinct identity within the unique cultural landscape of Bretagne. Members of the family during the eighteenth century were typically involved in the agricultural and maritime trades that defined the local economy. By settling in this specific region, the Dacre family became part of the long history of migration and regional development that shaped the social fabric of western France throughout the early modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. three escallops or”
Englandc. 1482
Where the Dacre Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dacre arms are recorded
The Dacre arms were recorded in England, c. 1482.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
Edward IV of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward IV of England
1471–1483
Reigning in France when the Dacre arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Dacre Family in England
The Dacre family name originates from the village of Dacre in Cumberland, where early members took their surname from the local landscape. By the late fifteenth century, the family had expanded their influence well beyond their northern roots and established a significant presence in the city of York. Records from 1482 confirm that members of the family were active in the civic and social life of this important northern hub. During this period, the Dacres were deeply involved in the political struggles of the era, often finding themselves at the center of regional power shifts. Their transition from local landowners to influential figures in major cities like York highlights how the family successfully navigated the complex social hierarchies of medieval England. Through strategic marriages and loyal service to the crown, they secured a lasting place in the historical record of the north.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Acre
Derived from the French preposition de meaning of and the place Acre.
This name
DacreRefers to a person originating from the city of Acre in the Holy Land.
also spelled
Dacree
Tacre
Dacrer
Daker
Dakers
Related arms
Acresame arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1725
Poter, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 2005
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
