Map of France showing where the Penis arms are recorded
The Penis arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Penis 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 Penis Family in France
The family name Penis appears in historical records from the Bretagne region of France as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, surnames in this part of the country were often derived from local geography, nicknames, or specific trades practiced by ancestors. In the rural communities of Bretagne, families were frequently identified by their connection to the land or their role within the parish. The name likely evolved from a regional dialect or a phonetic variation of a local term used to describe a person’s status or physical location. As families moved between villages for work or marriage, these names were recorded by local clerks in church registers. These early documents provide a clear link to the ancestors who established the family line in the western provinces of France long before modern naming conventions became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pennis
Derived from the Latin word penna meaning feather or wing.
This name
PenisA topographic name for someone who lived near a pointed hill or peak.
also spelled
Pensi
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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
