Map of France showing where the Debretts arms are recorded
The Debretts arms were recorded in Tour, c. 1663.
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 Debretts 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 Debretts Family in France
The family name Debrett is rooted in the history of the Touraine region of France, where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. During this period, the name was closely associated with the social and professional landscape of Tours, a city known for its vibrant trade and intellectual life. The family likely originated from a local place name or a descriptive term common to the French language of the seventeenth century. As residents of this historic area, the early members of the family would have lived through a time of significant transition in French society, navigating the local administrative and economic structures of the Loire Valley. Over time, the name evolved alongside the family’s movements, eventually gaining recognition through their involvement in publishing and public life in later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de bret
a person originating from the region of Brittany
This name
Debrettsa topographic or habitational name denoting someone from the Breton territory
also spelled
Debore
Boret
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Indre-et-Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Tours
Boutier, Jean, Les sociétés urbaines en France au XVIIe siècle, 1993
Debrett, John, Debrett’s Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1803
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
