Map of France showing where the Sammartino arms are recorded
The Sammartino arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Sammartino 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Sammartino Family in France
The family name Sammartino traces its roots to the historical region of Guyenne in southwestern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name itself is derived from the Latin phrase Sanctus Martinus, which honors Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most influential figures in early European history. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land and local agricultural traditions. As the name spread from its origins in the French countryside, it evolved through various linguistic shifts as family members migrated and interacted with different regional dialects. By maintaining their identity through generations in Guyenne, the early Sammartino family became part of the long social history of a province known for its vineyards and its complex role in the development of the French state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sanctus Martinus
Saint Martin, derived from the Latin name Martinus meaning of Mars.
This name
SammartinoA locative surname referring to a person from a place named after Saint Martin.
also spelled
Sanmartine
Sanmartinn
Zanmartin
Martin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Higounet, Charles, Histoire de Bordeaux: Bordeaux pendant le haut Moyen Âge, 1963
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lambGentleness, patience and faith
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lambGentleness, patience and faith
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
