Map of France showing where the Laster arms are recorded
The Laster arms were recorded in Aunis, c. 1663.
Aunis was tiny coastal country around La Rochelle, living entirely on the sea. Merchant families grew rich on Atlantic trade, bought land nearby, and took arms as landowners.
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 Laster 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 Aunis.
Origin & History of the Laster Family in France
The history of the Laster family name is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Aunis in western France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this historic province, which served as a vital hub for maritime trade and colonial expansion. During this period, the name was often associated with families living near the Atlantic coast, where the landscape was defined by salt marshes and bustling ports like La Rochelle. Many individuals from this region eventually sought new opportunities across the ocean, carrying their family traditions and heritage into the New World. The name reflects a connection to the specific geography and social structures of seventeenth-century France, marking the family as part of a long tradition of coastal settlers and pioneers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
L'estrier
Derived from the Old French word for a stirrup maker.
This name
LasterAn occupational surname for a craftsman who manufactured stirrups for horse saddles.
also spelled
Laster
Lastr
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arbellot, François, Documents sur l'histoire de l'Aunis et de la Saintonge, 1885
Archives départementales de la Charente-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de l'Aunis, 1663
Delafosse, Marcel, La Rochelle et le Canada au XVIIe siècle, 1952
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
