Map of France showing where the Flexer arms are recorded
The Flexer arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Flexer 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Flexer Family in France
The family name Flexer carries a distinct history that traces back to the rugged landscapes of Bretagne in the mid-seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this region by 1663, living among the coastal communities and inland rural parishes of northwestern France. During this era, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier linked to the local trades or the specific linguistic patterns of the Breton people. Families in this part of France often lived in tight-knit agricultural or maritime groups, and the Flexer name would have been passed down through generations as these individuals navigated the social and economic shifts of the French provinces. By maintaining a presence in Bretagne, the early Flexers were part of a unique cultural identity that blended traditional regional customs with the broader evolution of French society during the reign of Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Flechiere
Derived from the Old French word for an arrow maker.
This name
FlexerAn occupational surname historically denoting a craftsman who manufactured arrows or bows.
also spelled
Flesger
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
