A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edgecomb family of France.
Reg. 9797 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la bande d'or semée de mouch. d'herm. de sa., coticée d'or et ch. de trois hures de sanglier d'arg., les boutoirs vers le canton dextre du chef. C.: un sanglier pass. d'arg., d'une couronne de chêne de sin., englantée d'or. S.: deux lévriers d'arg. semés de larmes de sa., colletés-mortaisés de gu. D.: AU PLAISIR FORT DE DIEU.”
Francec. 1742
Where the Edgecomb Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Edgecomb arms are recorded
The Edgecomb arms were recorded in France, c. 1742.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Edgecomb 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 Edgecomb Family in France
The family name Edgecomb is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it originally functioned as a topographic surname. It was used to describe people who lived near the edge of a valley or a sharp ridge, as the name combines the Old English words for edge and valley. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne in France. Records from 1742 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this coastal province during a time of significant social and economic change. While the name began as a way to identify someone by their home in the English countryside, the family eventually crossed borders and integrated into the local communities of western France. This migration highlights how families moved and adapted across European regions during the pre-industrial era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Edge-combe
A sharp ridge or border located in a valley or hollow.
This name
EdgecombRefers to someone who lived near a sharp-edged ridge or a valley with a steep border.
also spelled
Edgecomb
Edgecombe
Edgecum
Edgcumbe
Edgcombe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1742
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
