Map of France showing where the Simas arms are recorded
The Simas arms were recorded in Philadelphie, 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 Simas 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 Simas Family in France
The family name Simas has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language traditions. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the region, reflecting the way names were spoken and recorded by parish clerks during that era. As the family grew, they remained connected to the landscape of western France, contributing to the local culture and the agricultural life that defined the Breton countryside for generations.
Simas Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on meaning he has heard.
This name
SimasA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Simon or a variant of the name.
also spelled
Syms
Simms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de la série E (Registres paroissiaux)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
