A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fiere family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0090 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. en p. d'un arbre terrassé du même; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un croiss. d'or, entre deux étoiles d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Fiere Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fiere arms are recorded
The Fiere arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fiere 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 Fiere Family in France
The family name Fiere traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Brittany, where members of the lineage were firmly established by 1663. In the context of seventeenth-century France, the name likely emerged as a descriptive nickname, as the word "fière" translates to "proud" in French. During this period, families in the Breton region often lived in tight-knit rural communities where such names served to distinguish individuals based on their perceived temperament or social standing. Because Brittany maintained a unique cultural and legal identity separate from the rest of the French kingdom, the Fiere family would have navigated a society defined by local traditions and the influence of the Catholic Church. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of their parish, leaving behind traces of their existence in regional tax rolls and baptismal records that document the steady growth of the family line across the province.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'or à un griffon de gu., tenant une branche de chêne feuillée de trois pièces et englantée d'autant de pièces, le tout au nat.; le champ chapé-ployé d'azur, ch. tant à dextre qu'à sen. de trois los. d'arg., 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon, iss. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1745
Where the Fiere Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Fiere arms are recorded
The Fiere arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1745.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in France when the Fiere arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Fiere Family in Germany
The history of the Fiere family in Germany is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of Bavaria during the mid-eighteenth century. By 1745, records indicate that members of the family were established within this region, which was then a prominent electorate of the Holy Roman Empire. During this era, surnames often evolved from nicknames, occupations, or specific geographic locations, and the Fiere name likely emerged from these local linguistic traditions. Life in Bavaria at this time was heavily influenced by the agricultural cycles of the countryside and the strict social structures of the village communities. Families like the Fieres were typically integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for recording births, marriages, and deaths. As the family navigated the political and religious shifts of the 1700s, they contributed to the steady development of the Bavarian social fabric, living through a period of significant transition before the later unification of the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fier
Derived from the Old French word for proud or fierce.
This name
FiereA descriptive nickname for an individual characterized by a proud or haughty demeanor.
also spelled
Fiere
Feer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur. Histoire de Bretagne. 1896
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
