A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schermerhorn family of France.
Reg. 4972 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
hedgehogA provident provider
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. ou d'azur à un chêne au nat., posé sur un tertre de sin., et une taupe de sa. au pied de l'arbre. Cq. cour. C.: le chêne. D.: INDUSTRIA SEMPER CRESCAM.”
FranceNew-York, c. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Schermerhorn arms are recorded
The Schermerhorn arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Schermerhorn 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 Schermerhorn Family in France
The Schermerhorn family name originates from the Netherlands, specifically deriving from a village in the province of North Holland known as Schermerhorn. The name itself is a combination of two Dutch words, with "scherm" referring to a screen or a protective barrier and "horn" denoting a corner or a piece of land projecting into water. By the early 18th century, members of the family had begun to migrate across Europe, establishing a documented presence in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. This movement suggests that the family was part of a broader trend of European mobility during the Enlightenment era, where individuals often traveled for trade, military service, or religious reasons. As the family moved into new territories, they maintained their distinct surname, which served as a linguistic link to their ancestral Dutch roots even as they integrated into the local cultures of their new homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schermerhorn
Derived from the Dutch words for screen or shelter and horn.
This name
SchermerhornRefers to a protective corner or a sheltered piece of land projecting into water.
also spelled
Schermerhorne
Schermer
Schermerhorner
Shermerhorn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Van der Aa, A. J., Biographisch Woordenboek der Nederlanden, 1874
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
hedgehogA provident provider
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
hedgehogA provident provider
