Map of France showing where the M arms are recorded
The M 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 M 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 M Family in France
The history of the family name M. in the region of Bretagne begins with deep roots in the rural landscape of seventeenth-century France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this rugged coastal province, a time when the region maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of the kingdom. Life for these early ancestors was defined by the rhythms of the Atlantic climate and the traditional agricultural practices that supported small village communities. As inhabitants of Bretagne, they likely spoke a mix of French and the local Breton language, navigating the social changes of the era while remaining closely tied to their parish churches. These early generations helped shape the local community through their labor and their participation in the parish life that served as the backbone of society during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amal
A Germanic root meaning work, labor, or industrious.
This name
MA shortened form of names like Amaury, signifying a powerful or industrious ruler.
also spelled
Le Mee de Cornehouat
Mee de Cornehouat
Le Mee de Cornehou
LeMay
M
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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B, Fonds de la juridiction seigneuriale
Croix, Alain, La Bretagne aux 16e et 17e siècles: la vie, la mort, la foi, 1984
Le Gall, Jean-Marie, Les moines au temps des réformes: France, 1480-1560, 2001
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
