Map of France showing where the Face arms are recorded
The Face arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Face 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 France.
Origin & History of the Face Family in France
The family name Face has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and legal traditions. Families living in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trade, as the rugged coastline and fertile inland fields shaped the daily lives of the local population. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames used to describe a person’s physical features or their role within a small village community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the local parish life that defined the era. By tracking these early ancestors, we gain a clearer picture of how the family name persisted through generations of change in western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
facies
Latin term meaning form, appearance, or face.
This name
FaceA topographic surname referring to someone living near a prominent cliff or rock face.
also spelled
Fasse
Fassee
Fase
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
Poter, Jean-Pierre, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1996
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1905
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
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