A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edgecombe family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0015 · 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 Edgecombe Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Edgecombe arms are recorded
The Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe Family in France
The history of the Edgecombe name in France is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne. By 1742, records confirm that family members were firmly established in this area, which was known for its strong maritime traditions and distinct cultural identity. The name likely evolved as a locative surname, meaning it was used to identify people who lived near a specific geographical feature, such as a sharp ridge or the edge of a valley. During the mid-eighteenth century, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked in agriculture or trade. The presence of the Edgecombe name in these local parish registers suggests that these ancestors were integrated into the social and religious life of the province. Over time, the family name became a permanent part of the regional landscape, reflecting the movement and settlement patterns of people living along the rugged French coastline.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. on a bend ermines cotised or, three boars' heads couped ar”
EnglandMount-Edgcumbe, c. 1620
Where the Edgecombe Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Edgecombe arms are recorded
The Edgecombe arms were recorded in Mount-Edgcumbe, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Edgecombe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Edgecombe Family in England
The name Edgecombe is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative surname that described people who lived near the edge of a valley or a ridge. The word itself combines the Old English terms for a sharp boundary and a hollow or valley. While the family name became prominent in the southwestern regions of England, historical records confirm that members of the Edgecombe family were well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this era, families with this name were often involved in the local trade and civic life of northern English towns. As they moved across the country, they carried this descriptive name with them, reflecting a history tied to the geography of the English countryside and the growth of urban communities in the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Edge + Combe
A sharp boundary or ridge combined with a small valley.
This name
EdgecombeRefers to someone who lived near a valley located at the edge of a ridge.
also spelled
Edgecomb
Edgecombe
Edgecum
Edgcumbe
Edgcombe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Duine, François, La Bretagne: Études d'histoire et de géographie, 1912
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
