A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Bar family of France.
Reg. 7853 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de sa., acc. de trois los. de gu., rangées en chef.”
Francec. 1663
Where the de Bar Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the de Bar arms are recorded
The de Bar arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 de Bar 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 de Bar Family in France
The family name de Bar originates from the historical practice of identifying individuals by their place of residence or origin. In the case of this name, it likely refers to a person who lived in or hailed from a location named Bar, a common place name found throughout various regions of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Bretagne. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in rural parishes where they were deeply connected to the local land and agricultural life. As the name spread through different communities, it became a fixed identifier that was passed down through generations. This transition from a simple geographic description to a formal surname reflects the way families began to solidify their identities within the social structure of seventeenth-century France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
barrus
Latin term meaning a wild boar or tusker.
This name
de BarRefers to a person living near a fortified barrier or a place named after boars.
also spelled
de Barr
de Barre
Bar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Poter, Louis, Essai sur l'histoire de la Bretagne, 1863
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
