Map of France showing where the Mhatre arms are recorded
The Mhatre 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 Mhatre 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 Mhatre Family in France
The history of the Mhatre family name is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm their presence as early as 1725. During this period, families in this area were often closely tied to the maritime economy and the unique cultural landscape of the peninsula. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions that were common among the working families of the eighteenth century. As these ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the time, they established a legacy that remained tied to the land and the sea. By studying these early records, we can see how the family integrated into the local community and contributed to the distinct heritage of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Matre
Derived from the Latin word for mother or maternal origin.
This name
MhatreA surname historically associated with maternal lineage or a matronymic designation.
also spelled
Maiter
metr
Master
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux, 1725
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 2005
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
