A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feet family of France.
branchPeace, and new growthJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à une branche de myrte de sin., posée en pal.”
The Feet 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.
Reigning in France when the Feet arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Feet traces its roots to the coastal region of Bretagne, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1663. In this historical context, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier, a common practice in seventeenth-century France where surnames were often derived from physical traits, occupations, or specific geographic markers. Living in a region defined by its rugged Atlantic coastline and distinct cultural identity, the early Feet family would have been deeply integrated into the local agrarian or maritime economy. As the name evolved through generations, it moved beyond a simple nickname to become a permanent identifier that linked the family to the social and administrative structures of the province. By maintaining a presence in Bretagne during this period, the family participated in the regional shifts of the era, contributing to the unique historical tapestry of northwestern France.
Derived from the Old French word for deed, act, or fact.
