Map of France showing where the Pernas arms are recorded
The Pernas arms were recorded in France, c. 1656.
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 Pernas 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 Pernas Family in France
The family name Pernas has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1656. The name is closely linked to the linguistic history of the area, as it likely evolved from the local Breton language. In this coastal region, surnames often developed based on a person’s trade, their specific village, or a unique physical trait. Because Brittany remained a distinct cultural area for centuries, families like the Pernas group often stayed within their ancestral parishes for generations. This allowed the name to persist in the local records of the region throughout the seventeenth century and beyond. By studying these early parish registers, historians can track how the family integrated into the rural society of western France during a time of significant social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Perna
Latin term for a leg or a ham.
This name
PernasA topographic name for someone living near a landmark or a nickname for a person with distinctive legs.
also spelled
Pernis
Pernas
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
Chédeville, André and Guillotel, Hubert, La Bretagne des saints et des rois : Ve-Xe siècle, 1984
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
