A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mayrand family of France.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-boardJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Echiq. d'or et d'azur.”
The Mayrand arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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.
Reigning in France when the Mayrand arms are first recorded.
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.
The Mayrand family name traces its roots to the historic Languedoc region of southern France. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family were well-established in this area, which was known for its distinct cultural identity and strong ties to the Mediterranean. In 1663, the family began a significant transition when Jean Mayrand, a native of the Languedoc town of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, chose to leave his homeland. He traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in New France, which is modern-day Quebec. This move marked the beginning of the family’s long history in North America. As early pioneers, the Mayrands contributed to the development of colonial settlements through agriculture and trade. Their migration helped bridge the traditions of their French heritage with the challenges of building a new life in a rugged, developing territory.
Derived from the Latin major meaning greater or superior.
