A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Masten family of France.
Reg. 8667 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la bande de gu., contre-fleurdelisée de six pièces d'azur.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Masten Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Masten arms are recorded
The Masten arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Masten 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Masten Family in France
The Masten family name finds its historical roots in the western region of France known as Poitou. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this area. The name likely evolved from local geographic markers or occupational titles common to the French countryside during the seventeenth century. As was typical for families of that era, the Mastens were deeply connected to the social and agricultural life of the Poitevin landscape. Many families from this region eventually migrated to North America to seek new opportunities, carrying their traditions and their name across the Atlantic. This transition marked a significant shift in the family history as they adapted to life in a new land while maintaining the identity formed in their French homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mastin
Derived from the Old French word for a mastiff or watchdog.
This name
MastenAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to a keeper of guard dogs.
also spelled
Masten
Mastyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Poitou)
Archives nationales d'outre-mer, Série E: Dossiers personnels et généalogiques
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
Delafontaine, Pierre, Les familles du Poitou au XVIIe siècle, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
