Map of France showing where the Desain arms are recorded
The Desain 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 Desain 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 Desain Family in France
The family name Desain finds its earliest documented roots in the rugged coastal region of Bretagne during the mid-seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within this province, a time when the area was known for its distinct cultural identity and maritime traditions. The name itself likely originated as a topographical descriptor, serving to identify individuals based on their proximity to a specific landmark or a particular style of living in the local community. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region, participating in the daily life of a province that served as a vital gateway for trade and travel. This early presence in Bretagne suggests that the family was part of the foundational population that helped shape the local history and development of the area during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Saint
Derived from the Latin sanctus meaning holy or sacred.
This name
DesainA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a local church or saint's shrine.
also spelled
Desain
De-san
Desein
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Familles et seigneuries)
Poter de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1890
Gallot, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
