A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fann family of France.
Reg. 7424 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à trois gantelets d'or, acc. au point du chef d'un martinet du même. Cq. cour. C.: une tête de boeuf d'arg., accornée de sa., le col ch. d'une rose de gu. S.: deux léopards naturels, coll. d'or, la tête de front. D.: NE VILE FANO.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Fann Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fann arms are recorded
The Fann 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 Fann 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 Fann Family in France
The family name Fann has deep roots tied to the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During this period, the region was characterized by a strong maritime culture and a distinct linguistic heritage that shaped the lives of its inhabitants. Families like the Fanns were often deeply connected to the local parish systems, which served as the primary centers for community life, record-keeping, and social organization. As the eighteenth century progressed, these families navigated the complex social changes of rural France, often working in agriculture or trade to sustain their households. The survival of these early records provides a rare glimpse into the lives of ancestors who helped build the foundations of their local communities long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fannus
Latin term referring to a temple or a sacred place.
This name
FannA topographic surname for someone who lived near a shrine or a place of worship.
also spelled
Fann
Fayne
Fain
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de l'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
