Map of France showing where the Flinn arms are recorded
The Flinn arms were recorded in France, c. 1717.
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 Flinn 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 Flinn Family in France
The family name Flinn has roots that stretch deep into the history of Western Europe, particularly within the coastal regions of Ireland and France. While the name is often associated with Gaelic origins, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Bretagne by 1717. During this period, the region served as a vital maritime hub, and families like the Flinns were frequently involved in trade and navigation across the English Channel. Living in Bretagne allowed these early ancestors to bridge the gap between their Celtic heritage and the evolving cultural landscape of eighteenth-century France. By maintaining a presence in this strategic coastal area, the family integrated into local life while preserving their distinct identity through generations of change.
Flinn Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Flann
An Old Irish term meaning ruddy or red-colored.
This name
FlinnA surname of Irish origin denoting a descendant of a person with a red complexion.
also spelled
Folyne
Related arms
Flynvariant spelling
O'Flynnvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B, Fonds de l'Amirauté de Brest
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
