A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Reems family of France.
Reg. 5724 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'or à la fasce de gu., acc. de trois merlettes de sa.; aux 2 et 3 de pourpre à la fasce d'or, acc. en chef de deux roses du même, et en p. d'un lion naiss. d'or, tenant entre ses pattes une autre rose du même. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa. Deux cq., le 2 cour. C.: 1º une merlette de sa.; 2º le lion du 2.”
Francec. 1725
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 Reems arms are recorded
The Reems 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 Reems 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 Reems Family in France
The family name Reems, often linked to the historical region of Bretagne in France, carries a legacy deeply rooted in the rural life of the eighteenth century. By 1725, records indicate that members of this lineage were established within the Breton landscape, a time when the region was defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and strong agricultural traditions. Families in this area frequently took names based on their specific village, their occupation, or unique physical traits, which helped them maintain a clear identity within their local parishes. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of the 1700s, they likely contributed to the vibrant maritime and farming culture that defined the coastal provinces of France. Over time, the name evolved as family members moved across borders, eventually carrying their ancestral history into new regions while preserving the memory of their origins in the rugged lands of Bretagne.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Remigius
Latin name derived from the word for rowing or oarsman.
This name
ReemsA locative surname referring to individuals originating from the city of Reims.
also spelled
Reimz
Reyms
Reems
Rims
Reams
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d’état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de la série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Delumeau, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1969
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
