Map of France showing where the Polanco arms are recorded
The Polanco arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Polanco 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Polanco Family in France
The name Polanco has deep roots that trace back to the mountainous regions of northern Spain, specifically within the province of Cantabria. The name is locative, meaning it was originally taken from the town of Polanco, which served as the ancestral home for the family line. By the middle of the 17th century, the family had expanded its reach beyond the Iberian Peninsula. Historical records confirm that members of the Polanco family were present in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1663. This migration was likely driven by the movement of merchants, soldiers, or administrators who traveled across European borders during a time of shifting political alliances. As these individuals settled in new lands, they carried their family name with them, establishing a presence in French society while maintaining the identity linked to their northern Spanish origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
pol
derived from the Latin word pullus meaning a young animal or sprout
This name
Polancorefers to a person who lived near a small field or clearing
also spelled
Plancoit
Plancoett
Plankoet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Madoz, Pascual. Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de Ultramar. 1849
González Echegaray, Carmen. Diccionario de apellidos y escudos de Cantabria. 1994
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
