A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Jarnagin family of France.
Reg. 8325 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 gu. à deux chev. d'arg., acc. en chef de deux croiss. du même et en p. d'un scorpion d'or. - Ou: D'azur à la fasce d'or, acc. en chef d'un dextrochère d'arg. soutenant un oiseau du même, bq. et m. de gu.”
BerryBerry, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Jarnagin arms are recorded
The Jarnagin arms were recorded in Berry, c. 1663.
Berry was central French farming country, quiet and long-settled. Its estates were modest and stayed in the same hands for centuries, and steady landholding of that kind is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Jarnagin 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 Berry.
Origin & History of the Jarnagin Family in France
The Jarnagin family name is believed to have roots in the Berry region of central France. Historical records indicate that family members were present in this area as early as 1663. During this period, many families in the region were involved in agricultural life or local trade within the provinces. As the seventeenth century progressed, shifting political and religious climates in France prompted many individuals to seek new opportunities abroad. The family eventually migrated to the American colonies, where they settled and established themselves in the frontier regions of Virginia and Tennessee. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved to its current form as the family integrated into their new communities and adapted to the English-speaking environment of the colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jardin
A piece of enclosed ground used for growing plants or vegetables.
This name
JarnaginDerived from an occupational name for a gardener or someone who lived near a garden.
also spelled
Jarnagee
Jarnagg
Jarnaj
Yarnaj
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Crozier, William Armstrong, Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776, 1905
Summers, Lewis Preston, History of Southwest Virginia 1746-1786, Washington County 1777-1870, 1903
Library of Virginia, Land Office Patents and Grants, 1623-1774
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
