Map of France showing where the le Meur arms are recorded
The le Meur 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 le Meur 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 le Meur Family in France
The family name Le Meur originates from the Brittany region of France, where the name has deep linguistic roots in the Breton language. In the local dialect, the word "meur" translates to "great" or "large," suggesting that the name was likely a descriptive nickname given to an ancestor who was physically tall or held a position of significant importance within their community. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established across the Breton countryside. During this period, the Le Meur family lived in a society defined by rural traditions and the influence of the local parish. As the name became a permanent surname, it was passed down through generations of farmers, artisans, and laborers who helped shape the unique cultural identity of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
meur
Breton word meaning great or large.
This name
le MeurA descriptive surname referring to a person of significant stature or importance.
also spelled
Le Meure
Lemeurre
le Mur
Meur
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Les noms de lieux bretons, 1992
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
