A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Provence family of France.
Reg. 3127 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'or, acc. de six étoiles du même, 3 en chef, 2 en flancs et 1 en p. (Provens); aux 2 et 3 de gu. à cinq los. d'arg., posées en croix (de Mot). C.: une tête et col de cerf d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Francec. 1697
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Provence arms are recorded
The Provence arms were recorded in France, c. 1697.
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 Provence 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 Provence Family in France
The surname Provence is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify individuals based on their geographic origins. While the name is famously associated with the sun-drenched region in southeastern France, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the northwestern province of Bretagne by the late seventeenth century. By 1697, these families were active participants in the local social and economic life of the region. It is common for surnames derived from place names to spread across great distances as people migrated for trade, marriage, or military service. The presence of the Provence name in Bretagne suggests that early ancestors likely moved north from their ancestral homeland, eventually integrating into the distinct culture and communities of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Provincia
A territory or administrative district under Roman control.
This name
ProvenceRefers to a person originating from the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis in southeastern France.
also spelled
Provenss
Provence
Provenc
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1697
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
