Map of France showing where the Mars arms are recorded
The Mars arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Mars 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 France.
Origin & History of the Mars Family in France
The surname Mars has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where families bearing this name were well-established by the early eighteenth century. The name is often linked to the Latin word for the Roman god of war, but in a local context, it frequently served as a topographic name for people who lived near marshy or low-lying land. In the rural communities of Bretagne during the 1700s, families like the Mars were typically tied to the land through farming and trade. Because the region maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, the name likely evolved alongside the local Breton and Gallo dialects. By 1725, records show that members of the Mars family were active participants in the social and economic life of their parishes, helping to build the foundations of the community through generations of steady labor and local integration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mars
Derived from the Roman god of war and agriculture.
This name
MarsA locative surname referring to individuals originating from places named after the deity.
also spelled
Mars de Languedoc
Mars de Franche-Comte
Mars de
Mars
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
