A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Espinay family of France.
Reg. 2171 · 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
Where the Espinay Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Espinay arms are recorded
The Espinay 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 Espinay 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 Espinay Family in France
The family name Espinay originates from the historical region of Brittany in northwestern France. The name is derived from the French word *épine*, which means thorn, suggesting that the family likely took their name from a specific location marked by hawthorn bushes or a thorny landscape. By 1573, the family was well-established within the social and political fabric of the Breton nobility. During this period, members of the family were deeply involved in the regional administration and the complex legal affairs of the province. Their presence in Brittany during the late sixteenth century reflects a time of significant transition for the local aristocracy as they navigated the shifting power dynamics between the regional parliament and the French crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Epine
Derived from the Latin word spina meaning a thorn or spine.
This name
EspinayRefers to a place where hawthorn bushes or thorny thickets grow.
also spelled
Espynay
Espinaye
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Potier de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1890
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de la famille d'Espinay, Series E
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
