Map of France showing where the Plourde arms are recorded
The Plourde arms were recorded in Berry, c. 1663.
Berry was central French farming country, quiet and long-settled. Its estates were modest and stayed in the same hands for centuries, and steady landholding of that kind is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Plourde 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 Berry.
Origin & History of the Plourde Family in France
The surname Plourde traces its origins to the historic province of Berry in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were established in that region before the ancestor René Plourde decided to cross the Atlantic. Like many surnames from this era, the name likely evolved from a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific local landmark known to the community. When René Plourde arrived in New France, he settled in the Saint-Laurent river valley, where he worked as a pioneer to build a new life in the wilderness. His decision to leave his home in Berry helped establish the family name in North America, where it has remained a distinct part of the cultural landscape for over three centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Plorare
Latin verb meaning to weep, lament, or cry out.
This name
PlourdeA topographic name for someone living near a weeping tree or a place of lamentation.
also spelled
Pellord
Pellordee
Pellordet
Pelord
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Fonds Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
