Map of France showing where the Points arms are recorded
The Points 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 Points 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 Points Family in France
The history of the Points family is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm their presence by at least 1725. The name likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near a distinct geographical feature, such as a sharp headland or a point of land jutting into the sea. During the early eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trades, and their surnames frequently evolved from local landmarks or specific physical locations within their parish. As the family established itself in Bretagne, they became part of the local social fabric, navigating the complex economic and cultural shifts of pre-revolutionary France. This early period reflects a time when the family identity was closely linked to the rugged geography of the Breton coast, shaping the way they were identified by their neighbors and local officials.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Punctum
Latin term meaning a small dot, point, or prick.
This name
PointsA topographic name for someone living near a specific landmark or a sharp geographical feature.
also spelled
Poynt
Poyntze
Poyntzs
Points
Poyns
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, 1725
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
