A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Espana family of France.
Reg. 0753 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au lion coupé de gu. sur sin., arm. et lamp. d'or (Une branche cadette brisait ces armes d'une bande d'azur, semée de fleurs-de-lis d'or). D.: REPELLAM UMBRAS.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1573
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Map of France showing where the Espana arms are recorded
The Espana arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1573.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Espana 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 Espana Family in France
The family name España carries a deep historical connection to the movement of people across European borders during the sixteenth century. While the name is famously associated with the Iberian Peninsula, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1573. During this era, families often adopted surnames based on their place of origin to help identify their roots when settling in new lands. The presence of the España name in Bretagne suggests that these ancestors likely migrated northward, perhaps seeking new opportunities or fleeing the political and religious tensions that defined the period. By maintaining this specific surname in a French-speaking province, the family preserved a clear link to their ancestral heritage while integrating into the local community of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hispania
The Latin name for the Iberian Peninsula.
This name
EspanaA topographic surname denoting someone who originated from or had connections to Spain.
also spelled
Espynay
Espinaye
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1573
Galliou, Patrick, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2005
Jones, Michael, The Creation of Brittany: A Late Medieval State, 1988
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
