Map of France showing where the Mastin arms are recorded
The Mastin 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 Mastin 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 Mastin Family in France
The family name Mastin traces its roots back to the historic region of Poitou in western France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this area. The name is often linked to the Old French word mastin, which historically referred to a type of sturdy dog or a mastiff. In medieval times, such names were frequently given as nicknames to describe a person who possessed a loyal, watchful, or bold personality. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of Poitou, living through a period of significant religious and political change in seventeenth-century France. Over time, the name traveled beyond these regional borders, eventually spreading to other parts of the world as family members migrated and sought new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mastinus
A Latinized form derived from the Germanic name Masto or Mastoald.
This name
MastinA topographic or occupational surname likely referring to a dweller near a mast tree or a mast maker.
also spelled
Masten
Mastyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la province du Poitou, 1663
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
