A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Even family of France.
Reg. 9585 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
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 six coquilles d'arg.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Even Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Even arms are recorded
The Even 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 Even 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 Even Family in France
The family name Even finds its deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where it has been established for centuries. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Even family were actively living and working within this rugged coastal province. The name itself is derived from the ancient Breton personal name Ivon, which evolved over time through local dialects and regional naming customs. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the agricultural and maritime life of the Breton countryside, contributing to the unique cultural identity of the area. As the name spread through parish registers and local administrative documents, it became a stable identifier for generations of families who maintained strong ties to their ancestral lands in western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ivo
Derived from the Germanic word for yew tree or archer.
This name
EvenA French surname originating from a saint's name associated with yew wood.
also spelled
Evin du Rosel
Ewen du Rozell
Evain du Roze
Even
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série G: Clergé séculier
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
