A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meda family of France.
Reg. 7375 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
vairProtection, and the winter fur
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 la bande de vair, le vair rangé dans la direction de la bande en deux tires; au chef du premier, ch. d'une aigle de sa., cour. d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un demi-vol aux armes de l'écu (moins le chef). L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. D.: GENERE ET VIRTUTE.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Meda arms are recorded
The Meda arms were recorded in France, 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 Meda 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 Meda Family in France
The family name Meda has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by 1725. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne was a region defined by its distinct cultural identity and its reliance on maritime trade and agriculture. Families living in this area often took names that reflected their local geography or the specific trades they practiced within their village communities. As the Meda family lived in this coastal province, they likely participated in the vibrant social and economic life of the region, which was heavily influenced by both rural traditions and the bustling ports along the Atlantic. Over time, the name became a marker of their presence in the local parish records, which served as the primary way for families to document births, marriages, and deaths in a society that was rapidly changing before the French Revolution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Metus
Latin term referring to fear, dread, or anxiety.
This name
MedaDerived from a topographic descriptor for someone living near a boundary or a marker.
also spelled
Medae
Med
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Collection des registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Meyer, Jean, La noblesse bretonne au XVIIIe siècle, 1966
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
