A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Monsen family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4246 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 deux chev. de gu. C.: un lion d'or, ramp. contre une colonne d'arg. S.: un lion d'or et un griffon d'arg., tous deux ornés d'un collier d'azur ch. de trois croiss. d'or, et enchaînés d'azur. D.: PREST POUR MON PAYS.”
Francec. 1611
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Map of France showing where the Monsen arms are recorded
The Monsen arms were recorded in France, c. 1611.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in France when the Monsen 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 Monsen Family in France
The history of the Monsen name in France begins in the rugged coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm the family was established by 1611. During this era, the name likely emerged as a localized variation of names linked to mountainous or elevated terrain, even though the family settled in the western reaches of France. Families in seventeenth-century Bretagne often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or maritime traders. Because the region maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of the kingdom, the Monsen family would have navigated a society that valued local customs and the Breton language. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the social fabric of their parishes by participating in local governance and church life. Their presence in the historical record during the early 1600s serves as a testament to their long-standing roots in the region long before the modern era of standardized spelling and national record keeping.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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, two chevronels gu”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Monsen arms are recorded
The Monsen arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Monsen 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 England.
Origin & History of the Monsen Family in England
The family name Monsen carries a distinct history that reflects the movement of people across the North Sea into Northern England. While the name is deeply rooted in Scandinavian naming traditions, where it signifies "son of Mons" or "son of Magnus," its presence in York by 1620 suggests that early bearers were likely part of the active trade networks connecting England with the Baltic and Nordic regions. During the early seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for merchants and skilled laborers who moved between these coastal nations. Families arriving in this period often integrated into the local parish life, leaving traces of their presence in baptismal and burial registers. By establishing themselves in a historic city like York, these early Monsens became part of the diverse social fabric that defined Northern England during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mons
Latin term referring to a mountain or a prominent hill.
This name
MonsenPatronymic surname meaning son of the man from the mountain.
also spelled
Monsone
Monsonn
Monsont
Munson
Mounson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil)
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1990
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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