A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flesh family of France.
Reg. 5215 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 gu. à une flèche d'arg., accostée de deux tours du même; à la bande d'azur, semée de fleurs-de-lis d'or, br. sur le tout.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Flesh Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Flesh arms are recorded
The Flesh arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Flesh 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Flesh Family in France
The surname Flesh has roots that trace back to the early colonial period in North America, with documented evidence placing family members in Maine as early as 1663. During this era, the name was often associated with individuals living in frontier settlements where families relied on agriculture and trade to survive the harsh New England winters. Historians believe the name may have originated as a descriptive occupational term or a nickname in Europe before being brought across the Atlantic by early settlers. As these pioneers established homesteads in the rugged landscape of Maine, they became part of the foundational population that helped shape the region. Over the following generations, the family name became firmly established in the local records of the area, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of those who first arrived on the coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Flesch
A Germanic term referring to meat or flesh.
This name
FleshAn occupational surname for a butcher or someone who sold meat.
also spelled
Flesche
Flesch
Flesh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660. 1908
Maine State Archives. Province and Court Records of Maine. 1928
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
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
