Map of France showing where the Savoie arms are recorded
The Savoie arms were recorded in France, c. 1418.
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.
Charles VI of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI of France
1380–1422
Reigning in France when the Savoie 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 Savoie Family in France
The history of the Savoie name is deeply rooted in the medieval landscape of France, with documented evidence placing family members in the region of Bretagne as early as 1418. During this period, the name functioned as a geographical identifier, typically referring to individuals who had migrated from the mountainous Savoy region located near the Alps. As these families settled in western France, they integrated into the local social structures of the Breton countryside. Over time, the name evolved from a simple descriptor of a person’s place of origin into a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. This transition reflects the broader patterns of movement and social organization in late medieval Europe, where people often carried the memory of their ancestral homes through their family names as they established new lives in different provinces.
Savoie Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Sapaudia
A Latin term referring to a land of fir trees.
This name
SavoieA regional toponymic surname denoting someone who originated from the Savoy region.
also spelled
Savoy
Savoye
Savwa
Related arms
Savoyevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Fonds de la série E, documents relatifs aux familles et aux seigneuries
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
