Map of France showing where the Sims arms are recorded
The Sims 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 Sims 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 Sims Family in France
The family name Sims has roots that trace back to the medieval period in England and Scotland, where it originated as a patronymic surname derived from the given name Simon. Over several centuries, the spelling evolved from variations like Symmes or Simms as families migrated across borders and languages. By the early eighteenth century, members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne in France. During this time, the name often adapted to the local linguistic environment while maintaining its connection to its ancestral origins. These early settlers in Bretagne were part of a broader movement of families who moved between the British Isles and the coastal regions of France for trade and religious reasons. This history highlights how a name can travel across cultures and persist through generations of migration and change.
Sims Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on meaning he has heard.
This name
SimsA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Simon.
also spelled
Syms
Simms
Related arms
Asshetonrecorded with Sims, same area
Checkleyrecorded with Sims, same area
Dennyrecorded with Sims, same area
Dickinsonrecorded with Sims, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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
