A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Espe family of France.
Reg. 8858 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
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 deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, passées en saut.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Espe Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Espe arms are recorded
The Espe arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Espe 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Espe Family in France
The family name Espe traces its roots back to the northern regions of France, with documented evidence confirming that family members were established in the province of Normandie by 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the agricultural traditions of the French countryside. Families living in Normandie at this time often derived their names from local geography or specific features of the land they cultivated. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Espe family became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the local community life that defined the era. This early presence in Normandie suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local population long before later generations began to migrate to other parts of the world. By maintaining a stable presence in this historic province, the early members of the family helped establish the foundations of the name that would eventually spread across borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
spes
Latin term meaning hope or expectation.
This name
EspeDerived from the Old French word for hope, often used as a nickname for an optimistic person.
also spelled
Espey
Espe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Le Maistre, Jean, Histoire de la province de Normandie, 1685
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
