A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Franconia family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à une émanche de trois pièces d'arg., mouv. de la p. Cq. cour C.: deux prob. aux armes de l'écu.”
The Franconia arms were recorded in Anciens, c. 1725.
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.
Reigning in France when the Franconia arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Franconia is deeply rooted in the historical geography of Europe, specifically relating to the region of Franconia in modern-day Germany. During the Middle Ages, the name served as a geographical descriptor for people who migrated from this central German territory to other parts of the continent. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the province of Bretagne in France. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this coastal region by 1725, likely drawn there by the active trade networks and agricultural opportunities of the era. As these individuals settled into the local culture of Bretagne, they maintained the name as a link to their ancestral origins while integrating into the social and economic life of their new home. This transition reflects the common patterns of movement and identity preservation that defined many families during the pre-industrial period in Western Europe.
Derived from the Germanic tribe known as the Franks or free men.
