A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Montrésor family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0483 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à quinze pièces de monnaie d'or et d'arg., posées en pile et alt., 1, 2, 3, 4 et 5, celle du milieu du troisième rang, d'arg., ch. d'une croisette de gu.; le tout accosté de deux poignets de carn., adossés et tenant chacun une épée d'arg., celles-ci se rejoignant en forme de chev., les pointes en haut.”
NormandieEtats-Unis · Normandie, c. 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 Montrésor arms are recorded
The Montrésor arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Montrésor 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Montrésor Family in France
The family name Montrésor finds its roots in the historical landscape of France, with documented evidence placing its members in the region of Normandy by 1663. During this period, the name was associated with the social and administrative structures of the French provinces, where families often held local influence through land ownership or service to the crown. The name itself carries a descriptive quality, suggesting a connection to a specific location or a place of significance that the family helped to manage or protect. As the family established itself in Normandy, they became part of the complex social fabric of the seventeenth century, a time when regional identity was closely tied to one's ancestral home and local community standing. By maintaining a presence in this northern territory, the early Montrésor family navigated the shifting political climate of the French monarchy while solidifying their place in the regional history of the era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. two arms mailed ppr. holding each a sword erect, on a plate in chief a cross couped gu”
KentDenne Hill · Kent, 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 Montrésor arms are recorded
The Montrésor arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Montrésor 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Montrésor Family in England
The Montrésor family name first appeared in the historical records of England during the early seventeenth century, specifically within the county of Kent. By 1620, members of the family were firmly established in this region, likely arriving as part of the broader movement of Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution in France. The name itself is derived from the French words for "my treasure," which suggests a long history tied to the French nobility or landed gentry before the family sought safety across the English Channel. Once they settled in Kent, the family integrated into the local community and began to participate in the social and professional life of the English countryside. Their presence in the area during this period highlights the significant impact that continental families had on the cultural and demographic landscape of southeastern England during the Stuart era.
Montrésor Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mon trésor
My treasure, derived from the Latin thesaurus meaning storehouse or treasure.
This name
MontrésorA locative or descriptive surname indicating a place of great value or a cherished possession.
also spelled
Montresore
Montresorr
Montrayzor
Montreser
Montresour
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Boutier, Jean, Les noms de famille en France: Histoire et société, 2005
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
