A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erice family of France.
hedgehogA provident providerJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à trois hérissons d'or.”
The Erice arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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.
Reigning in France when the Erice arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Erice is deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes of northern Spain, specifically within the Basque Country and the region of Navarre. The name is often associated with the village of Erice in the valley of Lizoáin, where the local language and geography shaped the identity of its earliest inhabitants. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family began to venture far from their ancestral homes, seeking new opportunities across the Atlantic. Records confirm that individuals bearing the name were present in Maine by 1663, marking a significant transition from their European origins to the harsh, frontier environment of colonial North America. These early settlers were likely drawn to the region by the thriving maritime and timber industries, which offered a stark contrast to the mountainous terrain of their homeland. This migration highlights the resilience of the family, as they adapted to a new climate and culture while maintaining the legacy of their unique surname.
Old Norse name meaning eternal ruler or ever-powerful king.
