Map of France showing where the Mabrey arms are recorded
The Mabrey arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Mabrey 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Mabrey Family in France
The Mabrey family name finds its historical roots in the region of Normandie, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the agricultural traditions of northern France. Families living in this area often took names that reflected their specific village or the local geography of their home. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Mabrey family lived through a time of significant social change in France, which eventually encouraged many individuals to seek new opportunities beyond their ancestral borders. This movement helped the family name transition from a localized identity in Normandie to a broader presence in other regions and countries over the following generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Malbray
Derived from the Germanic elements for bad or evil and hill.
This name
MabreyA habitational name referring to a person from a place characterized by a difficult or rugged hill.
also spelled
Mabray
Mabri
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Manche, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Le Cacheux, Paul, Essai sur les origines de la vie rurale en Normandie, 1925
Musset, Lucien, Histoire de la Normandie, 1970
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
