A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferrette family of France.
Reg. 7654 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. au lion d'arg., arm. et cour. d'or. C.: un buste de femme de carn., les cheveux épars, cour. d'or, tort. de deux rubans, de sa. et d'arg., flottant à sen.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Ferrette Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Ferrette arms are recorded
The Ferrette 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 Ferrette 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 Ferrette Family in France
The family name Ferrette is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Brittany, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. The name likely originated as a descriptive term linked to the iron trade or the geography of the region, as the root word often relates to ironworking or rocky terrain. During the early eighteenth century, families in this part of France were frequently tied to specific parishes, where they worked as skilled laborers or farmers. Life in Brittany at this time was defined by strong community bonds and a reliance on local agriculture, which helped the family establish a lasting presence in the area. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local villages, contributing to the rural development and cultural identity of the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ferrum
Latin term meaning iron or a tool made of iron.
This name
FerretteA topographic name for someone living near an iron mine or a blacksmith.
also spelled
Ferete
Ferrett
Fereite
Feret
Ferret
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 la série E, État civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Goff, Hervé, Les noms de famille bretons, 2005
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
