Map of France showing where the Lemur arms are recorded
The Lemur 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 Lemur 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 Lemur Family in France
The family name Lemur finds its earliest documented roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne during the mid-seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this French province by 1663, living within a region defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and strong maritime traditions. The name itself likely evolved from local descriptive terms or nicknames used to distinguish individuals within small rural parishes. During this era, families in Bretagne were often tied closely to the land or the sea, and the name would have been passed down through generations of farmers, tradespeople, or coastal workers. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local villages, contributing to the unique cultural identity that has defined the Breton people for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lemures
Latin term referring to spirits of the dead or restless ghosts.
This name
LemurA nickname likely given to a nocturnal person or someone with ghostly features.
also spelled
Le Meure
Lemeurre
le Mur
Meur
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
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
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
