A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mcnamara family of France.
Reg. 3546 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or à une galère de gu., les voiles ferlées, et un chef de gu. ch. de trois étoiles d'or. L'écu entouré d'une bord. d'herm. C.: un bras arm., le coude à dextre, la main tenant un poignard en fasce, la pointe à dextre. S.: deux lévriers, au nat. D.: VINCERE AUT MORI.”
Francec. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Mcnamara arms are recorded
The Mcnamara arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Mcnamara 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 Mcnamara Family in France
The surname McNamara originates from the Gaelic name Mac Conmara, which translates to "son of the hound of the sea." The family was historically prominent in the Kingdom of Thomond in Ireland, where they served as powerful lords and chiefs of the Dál gCais tribal group. By the mid-17th century, the political and social climate in Ireland led many families to seek opportunities abroad. Records confirm that members of the McNamara family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1663. These individuals often integrated into the local military or merchant classes, maintaining their distinct identity while adapting to life in a new country. This migration reflects a broader pattern of Irish families moving to continental Europe during a period of significant upheaval in their homeland.
Mcnamara Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Conmara
Son of the hound of the sea
This name
McnamaraDerived from Gaelic origins meaning a descendant of the sea hound or sea warrior.
also spelled
Macnamara
Macnemarra
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
O’Brien, M. A., Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae, 1962
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
