Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion de gu., ramp. contre un arbre arr. de sin.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mabie family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion de gu., ramp. contre un arbre arr. de sin.”

The Mabie arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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.
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.
The family name Mabie is deeply rooted in the historical region of Forez, located in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was known for its rugged landscape and strong local traditions. The name itself is thought to have evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the French provinces during the seventeenth century. Families in this part of France often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked as landowners or skilled tradespeople. As the family grew, some members eventually moved away from the Forez region to seek new opportunities in other parts of Europe and beyond. This migration helped spread the name across different borders and cultures, turning a local French surname into a global family identity.
Latin term meaning worthy of love or lovable.
