A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graeme family of France.
Reg. 9390 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce crén. de trois pièces de gu., ch. d'un oiseau du champ et acc. en chef d'une rose de gu. accostée de deux coquilles de sa., et en p. de trois piles d'or, mouv. de la fasce vers le bas.”
FrancePhiladelphie, c. 1725
Where the Graeme Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Graeme arms are recorded
The Graeme arms were recorded in Philadelphie, 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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Graeme 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 Graeme Family in France
The name Graeme is a variation of the Scottish surname Graham, which traces its roots back to the Norman Conquest of England in the eleventh century. The name is derived from the Old English word "grame," meaning angry or fierce, and it was brought to the British Isles by followers of William the Conqueror. Over several centuries, members of the family moved across Europe for various political and economic reasons. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne in France. This migration was likely part of a broader movement of families seeking new opportunities or fleeing political instability in the British Isles during the early eighteenth century. Once in France, the name often adapted to local linguistic patterns while maintaining its distinct historical connection to its origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gramus
Derived from the Latin word for a gravelly or stony area.
This name
GraemeA locational surname referring to someone who lived near a gravelly stream or area.
also spelled
Graem
Grame
Graham
Related arms
Asshetonrecorded with Graeme, same area
Checkleyrecorded with Graeme, same area
Dennyrecorded with Graeme, same area
Dickinsonrecorded with Graeme, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
