A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Havemeyer family of France.
Reg. 0765 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à la fasce d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même. C.: deux bras arm., posés en chev., tenant une épée d'arg. en pal.”
FranceNew-York, c. 1725
Where the Havemeyer Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Havemeyer arms are recorded
The Havemeyer arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Havemeyer 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 Havemeyer Family in France
The Havemeyer family name traces its roots to the coastal region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm the family was established by 1725. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older Germanic or Dutch terms related to land ownership or agricultural heritage. During the early eighteenth century, families in this part of France often lived in close-knit rural communities where they focused on farming and local trade. As the family grew, their presence in the region became tied to the shifting economic landscape of the era. While many families in Bretagne remained in their ancestral villages for generations, the Havemeyers eventually moved toward broader opportunities. This transition marked the beginning of a long history that would eventually see members of the family move across the Atlantic to build a significant legacy in the sugar industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hafn-meier
A harbor or haven steward or overseer.
This name
HavemeyerRefers to an individual who managed or served as a steward of a harbor or port facility.
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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne
Reichard, H., Die Herkunft der Familiennamen im niederdeutschen Raum, 1982
Touchard, H., Le commerce maritime breton à la fin du Moyen Âge, 1967
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
