A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferrett family of France.
Reg. 8491 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois bandes de gu.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Ferrett Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Ferrett arms are recorded
The Ferrett arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Ferrett 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Ferrett Family in France
The family name Ferrett finds its roots in the historical region of Normandy, France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely associated with the rural landscapes of northern France, likely evolving from a descriptive nickname or a reference to the small, agile animal known as the ferret. In the seventeenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land, working as farmers or tradespeople within their local parishes. As the family grew, some members moved between the coastal towns and the inland countryside, maintaining their presence in the region through generations of agricultural and community life. This early history reflects the broader movement of people in Normandy during the reign of King Louis XIV, a time when local records began to more formally track the lives and lineages of common families.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
furet
A small carnivorous mammal of the weasel family.
This name
FerrettAn occupational name for a hunter who used ferrets to catch rabbits.
also spelled
Fere
Ferret
Ferrett
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
