Map of France showing where the Perrine arms are recorded
The Perrine arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1514.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XII of France
1498–1515
Reigning in France when the Perrine 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Perrine Family in France
The family name Perrine finds its roots in the historical province of Lorraine, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1514. The name itself is a diminutive form of the name Pierre, which was a very common choice in medieval France due to the influence of Saint Peter. During the sixteenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of culture and trade located between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this region often worked as skilled laborers or farmers who contributed to the local economy of the duchy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the borderlands, navigating the complex political shifts that defined the region during the Renaissance. Over time, the name became a distinct identifier for these individuals as they moved through the towns and villages of northeastern France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une hache de boucher de sa., emm. de gu., posée en fasce, surmontant un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., le manche à dextre.”
SwitzerlandNeufchâtel, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Perrine arms are recorded
The Perrine arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Perrine Family in Switzerland
The family name Perrine finds its roots in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, particularly within the canton of Neuchâtel. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area by 1745. The name itself is a diminutive form of the name Pierre, which suggests that the family likely originated from a patriarch known as Peter. During this period, Neuchâtel was a unique principality with strong ties to both Swiss traditions and French cultural influence. Families like the Perrines often worked in local trades or agriculture, contributing to the development of the region’s distinct social structure. Because the area was a hub for religious refugees and craftsmen, the Perrine family was part of a dynamic community that valued record-keeping and civic participation. These early ancestors helped shape the local identity of the Jura mountain foothills long before many of their descendants eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. three greyhounds courant in pale ar”
EnglandJersey, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Perrine arms are recorded
The Perrine arms were recorded in Jersey, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Perrine arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Perrine Family in England
The surname Perrine is rooted in the medieval practice of creating names from personal nicknames, specifically serving as a diminutive form of the name Peter. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 indicate that members of the Perrine family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern English hub. During this period, York was a center for trade and religious administration, and families like the Perrines often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. While the name likely arrived in England through earlier continental influences, its firm placement in York by the 1620s suggests that the family had successfully transitioned into the local fabric of English society long before the era of mass migration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Petrus
Latin for stone or rock.
This name
PerrineA diminutive form of Pierre, signifying a small stone or rock.
also spelled
Perin
Peryn
Perryn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Bastien, Michel, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1998
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
axeThe execution of military duty
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
