Map of France showing where the Pavic arms are recorded
The Pavic arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Pavic 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Pavic Family in France
The surname Pavic finds its roots in the Slavic linguistic tradition, where it originated as a patronymic name derived from the given name Pavo, a common variation of Paul. While the name is deeply connected to the Balkan region, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1663. During this era, the movement of families across Europe was often driven by trade, military service, or the search for new opportunities in growing coastal communities. The presence of the Pavic name in Brittany suggests that these early ancestors successfully integrated into French society while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. Over time, the name evolved alongside the local dialects of the region, marking the family as part of the diverse cultural tapestry that defined seventeenth-century France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pavao
Derived from the Latin name Paulus meaning small or humble.
This name
PavicA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Paul.
also spelled
Pavic
Pavik de Krekan-gwe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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