A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Déry family of France.
Reg. 3575 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
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 une colombe d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'un cerf de gu.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Déry Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Déry arms are recorded
The Déry 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 Déry 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 Déry Family in France
The family name Déry finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name likely originated as a topographical identifier, serving as a way to distinguish individuals based on their proximity to specific local landmarks or their status as people from a particular wooded area. During the seventeenth century, life in this region was defined by close-knit rural communities and a strong connection to the land. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, participating in the daily agricultural and maritime activities that shaped the Breton identity. Over time, the name persisted as a marker of their ancestral origins, carrying the legacy of those early settlers who established their lives in the coastal villages of western France long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Darius
Derived from the Persian name Dārayavahu meaning holding firm the good.
This name
DéryA locative surname referring to someone who originated from the town of Dery.
also spelled
Derye
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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.
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
