A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferre family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8007 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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 trois bes. d'arg.; à la bord. échiq. d'arg. et d'azur.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Ferre Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Ferre arms are recorded
The Ferre arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Ferre 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Ferre Family in France
The surname Ferre is deeply rooted in the history of the Languedoc region of southern France, where the family established a documented presence by the year 1663. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "fer," which means iron, and it likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person who worked as a blacksmith or possessed a particularly strong and resilient character. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often tied closely to the land and the local agricultural economy. As the region experienced shifts in religious and political power, the Ferre family maintained their local standing through their involvement in the community and their trade. By tracing their origins to this specific time and place, we can see how the name evolved from a simple identifier of a person’s occupation into a lasting family legacy that persisted through generations of French history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a fer de moline ar. over all a bendlet az”
SuffolkBenhale · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Ferre Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Ferre arms are recorded
The Ferre arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Ferre arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Ferre Family in England
The surname Ferre has deep roots in the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm that family members were firmly established by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old French word "fer," which means iron, and it was likely used as a descriptive nickname for a person who worked as a blacksmith or possessed a particularly strong or unyielding character. During the early seventeenth century, families in Suffolk often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where surnames served as a way to distinguish neighbors who shared common first names. As the Ferre family integrated into the local society of East Anglia, they participated in the typical life of the region, which was heavily influenced by the wool trade and the steady expansion of rural parishes. By the time the family appeared in official records during the early 1600s, they were part of a long tradition of English families who helped shape the local identity of their villages through generations of labor and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ferrum
Latin word meaning iron or a tool made of iron.
This name
FerreAn occupational surname for a blacksmith or someone who worked with iron.
also spelled
Ferry
Fere
Related arms
Ferryvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
