A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haste family of France.
Reg. 1795 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 trois merlettes de gu.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Haste Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Haste arms are recorded
The Haste 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 Haste 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 Haste Family in France
The family name Haste has deep roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. In this historical context, the name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname or a locational marker for families living in the rugged landscapes of northwestern France. During the seventeenth century, life in Bretagne was defined by maritime trade, agriculture, and a distinct regional identity that remained somewhat separate from the rest of the kingdom. Families like the Hastes were often tied to the land or local industries, and their presence in official registers from this era suggests they were active participants in the social and economic life of their parish. As the family grew, they moved through the changing political landscape of France, carrying their name as a link to their ancestral origins in the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hast
A Germanic term referring to a spear or a sharp weapon.
This name
HasteAn occupational name for a spearman or a soldier who carried a lance.
also spelled
Le Hast
Haste
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
Galllouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
