A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mcmullen family of France.
Reg. 4808 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 deux mains de carn., mouv. des angles de la p., tenant chacun une épée au nat., garnie d'or, les épées croisées en saut. et acc. de trois hures de sanglier de gu., 1 en chef et 2 en flancs.”
FranceNew-York, c. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Mcmullen arms are recorded
The Mcmullen arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Mcmullen 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 Mcmullen Family in France
The family name McMullen is a variation of the Gaelic name Mac Maoláin, which translates to son of the bald or tonsured one. This name originally referred to a person who had shaved their head as a sign of religious devotion or service to the church. While the name has deep roots in Ireland and Scotland, members of the family established a notable presence in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this period, many families with Gaelic origins migrated across Europe due to political shifts and military service. Those who settled in Bretagne often integrated into local society while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. By the early eighteenth century, these families had become part of the diverse cultural landscape of western France, leaving behind records that track their movement and integration into new communities.
Mcmullen Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Maol
A Gaelic term referring to a devotee or a tonsured servant.
This name
McmullenDerived from the Gaelic Mac Maoláin, signifying the son of the devotee.
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
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
handFaith, sincerity and justice
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
handFaith, sincerity and justice
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
