Map of France showing where the Nigro arms are recorded
The Nigro arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Nigro 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Nigro Family in France
The surname Nigro is derived from the Latin word for black, which was often used as a descriptive nickname for individuals with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the Languedoc region of southern France. During this period, the area was a center of agricultural production and religious transition, which likely influenced the daily lives and social standing of the family members living there. As the name spread across the Mediterranean basin, it became associated with families who were deeply integrated into the local economies of their respective towns. These early ancestors were likely artisans or landowners who helped shape the cultural identity of the Languedoc landscape long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Niger
A Latin adjective meaning black or dark-colored.
This name
NigroA descriptive surname originally used to identify a person with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.
also spelled
Nigris
Nigro
Nigry
Nigre
Nigri de la Redort
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
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wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
