Map of France showing where the Shores arms are recorded
The Shores arms were recorded in Gascogne, c. 1725.
Gascogne was south-western country of small estates and stubborn independence, long fought over by France and England. Its gentry were numerous and poor, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Shores 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 Gascogne.
Origin & History of the Shores Family in France
The family name Shores is primarily rooted in the descriptive traditions of English surnames, where it was originally used to identify people who lived near a riverbank or a coastal shore. While the name has strong ties to the British Isles, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Gascogne region of France by 1725. During this period, the movement of families across borders was often driven by trade, religious shifts, or military service. The presence of the family in Gascogne suggests that they were part of a mobile population that adapted to the local culture while maintaining their distinct ancestral name. Over time, the name evolved from a simple geographical marker into a permanent family identifier that persisted through generations of relocation and social change.
Shores Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cote
A French term referring to a side, slope, or riverbank.
This name
ShoresA topographic surname for someone who lived near a riverbank or coastal area.
also spelled
Soyrez
Soyers
Soyre
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
phoenixRebirth, and survival through fire
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
phoenixRebirth, and survival through fire
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
