A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meiring family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2448 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une colombe volante d'arg., posée au centre d'un serpent de sin., plié en rond, tenant sa queue entre ses dents. S.: deux aigles reg. de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or.”
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 Meiring arms are recorded
The Meiring 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 Meiring 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 Meiring Family in France
The history of the Meiring family in France is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Brittany region during the seventeenth century. Records confirm that family members were established in this area by 1663, a time when Brittany functioned as a distinct province with its own unique traditions and social structures. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the northwestern coast of France, where families often identified themselves through specific geographic or occupational markers. During this period, the region was undergoing significant shifts in administration and religious life, which influenced how families documented their births and marriages in parish registers. By settling in Brittany, the early Meiring ancestors became part of a complex society that balanced rural agricultural life with the growing influence of the French crown. Their presence in the region during the 1660s suggests they were integrated into the local community, living through an era of transition that defined the social fabric of pre-revolutionary France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, on a chev. sa. three escallops ar”
YorkYork, c. 1620
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 England showing where the Meiring arms are recorded
The Meiring arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Meiring arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of York.
Origin & History of the Meiring Family in England
The history of the Meiring family in England is rooted in the vibrant social landscape of the early seventeenth century, specifically within the city of York. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this historic northern hub. During this era, York served as a significant center for trade and administration, attracting families who often worked as merchants or skilled tradespeople. The name itself suggests a connection to early Germanic or Dutch naming traditions, which were frequently brought to England by immigrants seeking new opportunities in the textile or mercantile industries. As these early family members integrated into the local community, they participated in the daily life of a city defined by its medieval architecture and growing commercial influence. Their presence in the parish records of the time highlights a family that was settling into the fabric of English society during a period of great transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mair
A mayor or a municipal officer of a town.
This name
MeiringDerived from an occupational title for a local official or administrative leader.
also spelled
Meryng
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Meyer, Jean, La noblesse bretonne au XVIIIe siècle, 1966
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
