A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Morin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1466 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“un buste d'homme cont., hab de sa., au rabat d'arg., tort. de gu.; entre deux pl. d'aut d'arg.; 2o le lion du 2, iss.; entre un vol, d'arg. et de sa. L. d'arg. et de sa. [V. Morrien.])”
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 Morin arms are recorded
The Morin 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 Morin 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 Morin Family in France
The surname Morin has deep roots in the French landscape, emerging as a descriptive name that often referred to a person with a dark complexion or hair, similar to the color of a blackberry. By the time records place the family in the region of Bretagne in 1663, the name was already well-established across various provinces of France. It was a common occupational or nickname-based surname that spread naturally as families moved through rural villages and growing towns. In the seventeenth century, families like the Morins in Bretagne were often deeply connected to the local agricultural life and the specific traditions of their parish. Because the name was relatively common, it appears frequently in early church registers and tax documents, which were used by local officials to track the movement and growth of the population. This history reflects the way many French families lived during the pre-revolutionary era, rooted in their local communities while contributing to the broader social fabric of the country.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, per pale indented ar. and az.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a fleur-de-lis az”
NottinghamCar Colston · Nottingham, 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 Morin arms are recorded
The Morin arms were recorded in Nottingham, c. 1620.
Nottinghamshire had coal under it and forest across it, and both were worth money. Families who profited bought manors, and a manor was the ordinary reason for a family to take a coat 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 Morin 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 Nottingham.
Origin & History of the Morin Family in England
The family name Morin has deep roots in medieval Europe, eventually finding its way to England where it became established in various regions. By the early 17th century, the name was clearly present in Nottingham, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, families with this surname were often involved in local trade and agriculture, contributing to the growing social fabric of English market towns. The name itself is thought to be derived from older linguistic traditions, potentially linked to descriptions of a person’s physical appearance or their ancestral origins. As the Morin family settled into life in Nottingham, they became part of the common history of the English Midlands, living through a time of significant economic and social change. Their presence in these early parish and legal documents highlights how the family integrated into their community during the reign of King James I.
Morin Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Maurus
Derived from the Latin word for a dark-skinned person or Moor.
This name
MorinA habitational name for someone from a place named after dark-skinned inhabitants.
also spelled
Morrin
Moryn
Moran
Moryne
Related arms
Maurin de Brignacvariant spelling
Maurin de Pardaillanvariant spelling
Moranvariant spelling
Morynvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
knightChivalry and service in arms
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
