Map of France showing where the Puryear arms are recorded
The Puryear arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 Puryear 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 Puryear Family in France
The Puryear family name traces its roots to the northwestern region of France known as Brittany. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established in this coastal area. The name likely developed as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a specific landmark or worked in a particular trade within the local community. During the seventeenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique traditions and social structures. Families in this region often lived in close-knit rural settlements where they relied on agriculture and maritime activities to sustain their households. As the century progressed, the political and religious climate in France began to shift, which eventually influenced the movement of many families from their ancestral homes to new territories across the Atlantic.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. three bars wavy sa. on a chief gu. a saltire or”
EnglandHigh Elms, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Puryear arms are recorded
The Puryear arms were recorded in High Elms, 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 Puryear 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 Puryear Family in England
The Puryear family name traces its roots to the social and economic landscape of seventeenth-century England. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, a time when the region was a center for trade and religious transition. The name itself likely evolved from descriptive terms used to identify individuals based on their occupation or their specific place of residence within the local community. As the family lived in York, they were part of a society that was beginning to look toward the Atlantic for new opportunities. This period of history saw many families from northern England seeking to improve their status through migration, which eventually led to the Puryear name appearing in colonial records across the ocean. By examining the presence of the family in York, we gain insight into the lives of ordinary people who navigated the changing political and economic structures of early modern England.
Puryear Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
pur
Derived from the Latin purus meaning clean or pure.
This name
PuryearAn occupational name for a person who worked as a purifier or cleaner.
also spelled
Pryor
Prierse
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
