Map of France showing where the Mcadam arms are recorded
The Mcadam arms were recorded in Boston Etats-Unis, 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 Mcadam 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 Mcadam Family in France
The surname McAdam is rooted in the Gaelic language, where it translates to "son of Adam." While the name is most commonly associated with Scottish origins, the family history extends across borders into continental Europe. By 1725, records confirm that members of the McAdam family were living in the region of Bretagne in France. During this era, many families from the British Isles moved to France due to political instability or to pursue new opportunities in trade and military service. These early settlers in Bretagne often integrated into local society while maintaining their distinct ancestral name. This migration highlights how the family name traveled far from its original Gaelic roots to become part of the historical landscape of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Hebrew for man or of the earth
This name
McadamPatronymic form indicating son of Adam
also spelled
Macadams
Makadams
Mcadam
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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