A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eken family of France.
Reg. 0327 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un casque d'arg., panaché du même, taré de profil.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Eken Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Eken arms are recorded
The Eken 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 Eken 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 Eken Family in France
The family name Eken carries a history deeply rooted in the coastal landscapes of Bretagne, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct region with its own unique customs and strong ties to the sea, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of early ancestors. The name itself is often associated with linguistic roots in Northern Europe, suggesting that the family may have migrated or maintained connections across maritime trade routes that linked the Breton coast to the wider North Sea region. While the family established deep local roots in France, the name reflects a broader cultural heritage that spans across different European territories. By living in Bretagne during this period, the family participated in a time of significant regional development, contributing to the local community through agriculture, trade, or maritime activity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ecke
A Germanic term referring to an edge, corner, or sword blade.
This name
EkenDerived from a nickname for someone living near a corner or a sharp-edged boundary.
also spelled
Equesnes
Duquesne
Eques
Eken
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, Collection de la série B: Cours et juridictions
Dottin, Georges, La langue bretonne, 1918
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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