Map of France showing where the Simos arms are recorded
The Simos 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 Simos 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 Simos Family in France
The family name Simos has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. During the early eighteenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with a unique cultural identity and a strong connection to maritime trade and agriculture. Families in this area often lived in close-knit rural parishes where life revolved around the local church and seasonal farming cycles. The name likely evolved as a variation of regional naming traditions, reflecting the linguistic blend of the Breton language and the French spoken by the local population. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their community, contributing to the local economy and the historical development of the region throughout the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew verb meaning to hear or to listen.
This name
SimosA French patronymic surname signifying descendant of the one who hears.
also spelled
Syms
Simms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Gall, Jean-Yves, La vie quotidienne en Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1985
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
