A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Péan family of France.
Reg. 2218 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 deux épées d'arg., posées en pals, les pointes en bas.”
OrleanaisOrleanais, c. 1663
Where the Péan Arms Were Recorded
Orleanais
Map of France showing where the Péan arms are recorded
The Péan arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Péan 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Péan Family in France
The family name Péan has deep roots in the Orléanais region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name itself is believed to be a variation of the ancient name Payen, which was a common personal name during the Middle Ages. This name was often used to describe someone who lived in a rural area or someone who was not a member of the clergy. As the family established itself in the fertile lands near the Loire River, they became part of the local social fabric. Over several generations, the Péan family integrated into the community through farming, trade, and local administration. Their presence in the region during the seventeenth century suggests they were part of the stable population that helped define the cultural identity of Orléanais before many families began to migrate to other parts of France or overseas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Paganus
Latin term for a country dweller or villager.
This name
PéanA nickname for someone who lived in a rural area or village.
also spelled
Peane
Peann
Payan
Pian
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales du Loiret, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Collection communale)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
