A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lemire family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4490 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, et une bannière d'arg., ch. d'une croix de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois sapins de sin., rangés sur une terrasse du même. Sur le tout de gu. à une grue avec sa vigilance d'arg., coll. d'une couronne d'or et posée sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un chevalier iss., arm. de toutes pièces au nat., le casque sommé de six pl. d'aut., alt. d'arg. et de gu., et tenant de sa main dextre levée une pierre au nat.”
Francec. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Lemire arms are recorded
The Lemire arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Lemire 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 Lemire Family in France
The surname Lemire originates from the French language and is categorized as a topographic or occupational name. It is derived from the phrase "le mire," which was a medieval term for a physician or a healer. During the seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the western regions of France, particularly in the province of Bretagne. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Lemire family were active participants in the social and economic life of this coastal area. Many individuals from this region eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, carrying their family name to the French colonies in North America. The name reflects a time when surnames were often chosen to describe a person’s specific role or trade within their local community.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois miroirs arrondis du même, encadrés d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un paon rouant, au nat. T.: deux sauvages, ceints et cour. de lierre, tenant chacun une massue, posée sur l'épaule.”
Belgiumc. 1670
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Map of Belgium showing where the Lemire arms are recorded
The Lemire arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1670.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles II of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of Spain
1665–1700
Reigning in France when the Lemire arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Lemire Family in Belgium
The surname Lemire traces its roots to the French language, where it originated as a descriptive term for a physician or a medical practitioner. By the year 1670, records confirm that members of the Lemire family were well-established within the region of Brabant, which was a central territory in the Southern Netherlands. During this period, the area was a complex landscape of shifting political boundaries and agricultural development. Families like the Lemires often lived in small rural communities or growing market towns, where they contributed to the local economy through trade, craftsmanship, or land management. Because Brabant served as a crossroads for European commerce and culture, the family likely navigated the challenges of the time by maintaining strong ties to their local parish and community networks. Their presence in the region reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the social and cultural identity of what would eventually become modern Belgium.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a chev. betw. three escallops or”
JerseyJersey, c. 1688
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The body that granted and recorded arms in Jersey in this period.
James II of England
Sovereign of the period
James II of England
1685–1688
Reigning in France when the Lemire arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Jersey
Arms in the Channel Islands were granted and recorded by the College of Arms in London, under the same law of arms as England. They could be used by all legitimate descendants of the original owner: the eldest son kept the original design, and other family members used the same shield without registering a version of their own.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms for Jersey and the other Channel Islands since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Jersey.
Origin & History of the Lemire Family in Jersey
The Lemire family name has a distinct history on the island of Jersey, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1688. The name itself is of French origin, derived from the term *le mire*, which historically referred to a physician or a medical practitioner. When the family settled in Jersey, they integrated into a society defined by a unique blend of Norman-French culture and British governance. During the late 17th century, Jersey served as a vital maritime hub, and families like the Lemires often participated in the island's robust trade networks or local agricultural life. By maintaining their presence on the island, the family became part of the enduring social fabric of the Channel Islands, navigating the challenges of living in a territory that frequently served as a strategic point between England and France.
Lemire Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
le mire
Old French term for a physician or medical practitioner.
This name
LemireAn occupational surname identifying an ancestor who worked as a doctor or healer.
also spelled
Le Mier
Lemierre
le Mir
Lemier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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