A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Serna family of France.
Reg. 9174 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 c.-éc.: a. de sin. à la bande d'arg.; b. d'or à cinq fleurs-de-lis de sin., 2, 1 et 2; c. de sa. à cinq poêles d'azur, en pals, 2, 1 et 2, les manches en bas; d. d'arg. à trois fasces de sa.; ces quartiers entourés d'une bord. de sin. ch. de huit roues d'or (de la Serna); au 2 de sin. à un lion d'or et une bord. burelée ondée d'azur et d'arg. (Vazquez-Laguna); au 3 parti: a. d'arg. à deux clés d'azur, passées en saut., les pannetons en bas et adossés, les clés liées d'un ruban d'or; b. de gu. au lion d'or (Abiancos); au 4 d'or à une tour sommée d'une tourelle au nat., supp. un olivier de sin. (Olivares).”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Serna arms are recorded
The Serna 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 Serna 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 Serna Family in France
The surname Serna is deeply rooted in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, where it originally functioned as a topographic name. It was used to describe people who lived near a "serna," which was an old term for a field or a piece of land reserved for the lord of a manor. As families moved and expanded, the name spread across different regions and eventually crossed borders. By 1725, records confirm that members of the Serna family were established in the Brittany region of France. This migration suggests that the family was mobile and likely involved in trade or regional movement during the eighteenth century. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of a person's home into a lasting family identity that reflects a long history of settlement and change.
Serna Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
serra
Latin term referring to a saw or a mountain ridge.
This name
SernaTopographic name for someone who lived near a mountain range or ridge.
also spelled
Sernas
Sernae
Serna de la Motte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Pescador del Hoyo, María del Carmen, Apellidos en España, 1996
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
