A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Monette family of France.
Reg. 1988 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or frette de gu.; à une los. d'or, br. sur le tout et ch. d'un lion de gu. (Minette); aux 2 et 3 c.-éc.: a. et d. d'or au lion de sa., arm. et lamp. de gu., au lambel de cinq pendants de gu., br. sur le corps du lion (Beaujeu en Beaujolais); b. et c. de gu. à cinq trangles d'arg. (Beaujeu en Franche-Comté). S.: deux griffons au nat. D.: A TOUT VENANT BEAUJEU.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Monette arms are recorded
The Monette 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 Monette 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 Monette Family in France
The family name Monette traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal province. The name itself is likely a diminutive form of the name Simon, which was a common practice in French naming traditions to distinguish younger family members or show affection. During the early eighteenth century, families in Bretagne were often deeply connected to the land and local trade. Life for the Monette family at this time would have been shaped by the unique cultural identity of the region, which maintained its own distinct language and customs separate from the rest of France. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of rural Breton life, contributing to the agricultural and maritime history of the area before many descendants eventually moved toward other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on meaning he has heard.
This name
MonetteA diminutive form of the name Simon, often used as a term of endearment.
also spelled
Mynette
Minet
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
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
lionCourage, strength and royalty
