A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Brosse family of France.
Reg. 0035 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à la croix alésée d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 fascé d'arg. et de sin.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the de Brosse Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the de Brosse arms are recorded
The de Brosse 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 de Brosse 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 de Brosse Family in France
The family name de Brosse traces its roots to the historical region of Brittany in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established residents within the local community. The name itself is topographical, which means it likely originated from a description of the land where the family lived. In Old French, the word brosse referred to a thicket, a patch of brushwood, or a wooded area. It is probable that the first people to carry this name were identified by their neighbors because they lived near a prominent cluster of trees or a dense forest. Over time, this descriptive label became a permanent surname passed down through generations as the family grew and settled into the social fabric of the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brossa
Old Occitan term referring to brushwood, thicket, or scrubland.
This name
de BrosseA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a thicket or brush-covered area.
also spelled
Debros
Brosse
de Bros
Bross
Related arms
Brossevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Books: Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Books: Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
