A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Macomber family of France.
Reg. 2032 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à une tête de cheval bridée de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une tour d'arg., ouv., aj. et maçonnée de sa.; au 4 d'or à un palmier de sin., fruité de gu.”
ChampagneChampagne, c. 1810
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Map of France showing where the Macomber arms are recorded
The Macomber arms were recorded in Champagne, c. 1810.
Champagne made its money at its great trade fairs, where merchants from across Europe met. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region carries a lot of names.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Macomber 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 Champagne.
Origin & History of the Macomber Family in France
The Macomber family name carries a history that stretches back through centuries of European movement and regional identity. While the name is often associated with later migrations to North America, its roots are firmly planted in the historical landscape of France. By the early nineteenth century, family members were well established in the Champagne region, a territory famous for its unique soil and long-standing agricultural traditions. Living in this area during the year 1810, the family would have experienced the profound social and political shifts occurring across the continent during the Napoleonic era. These early ancestors likely contributed to the local community through trade or land management, helping to define the family’s presence in a region known for its resilience and cultural heritage. This period in Champagne serves as a vital anchor point for understanding the family's transition from local inhabitants to a lineage that eventually spread across the globe.
Macomber Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Columbarius
Derived from the Latin word for a keeper of doves or pigeons.
This name
MacomberAn occupational surname for someone who tended to dove-cotes or pigeon houses.
also spelled
Maucomblee
Maucombl
Mokombl
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Marne, État civil de la commune de Reims (1810)
Bouché, Henri, Histoire de la province de Champagne, 1671
Lachiver, Marcel, Dictionnaire du monde rural: Les mots du passé, 1997
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.