A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferrières family of France.
Reg. 0425 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
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. à six fers-à-cheval d'arg.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Ferrières Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Ferrières arms are recorded
The Ferrières 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 Ferrières 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 Ferrières Family in France
The name Ferrières originates from the French word for iron, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely involved in the ironworking or blacksmithing trades. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was firmly established in the Normandy region of France. Records confirm their presence there by 1663, a time when many families in the area were deeply connected to the local agricultural and artisanal economy. During this period, the name was often associated with specific geographic locations or small villages where iron deposits were found and processed. As the family grew, members moved throughout the region to establish new households, helping to preserve the name as a reflection of their historical ties to the land and the essential craft of metalworking.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ferrum
Latin word meaning iron or a tool made of iron.
This name
FerrièresA topographic name for someone who lived near an iron mine or forge.
also spelled
Ferriere
Ferrier
Ferreeer
Ferryer
Related arms
Ferriervariant spelling
Ferrièrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, 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.
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
