A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Somerset family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1210 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec., d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis d'or (France), et de gu. à trois léopards d'or, l'un sur l'autre (Angleterre); l'écu entouré d'une bord. comp. d'arg. et d'azur. C.: une herse sarasine d'or, clouée d'azur, avec deux chaines d'or. S.: à dextre une panthère d'arg., tâchetée de divers émaux, la tête posée de front, jetant des flammes par la bouche et les oreilles, coll. et enchaînée d'or: à sen. un dragon ailé de sin., tenant entre ses dents une main sen. de gu. D.: MUTARE VEL TIMERE SPERNO.”
Francec. 1506
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Somerset arms are recorded
The Somerset arms were recorded in France, c. 1506.
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 XII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XII of France
1498–1515
Reigning in France when the Somerset 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 Somerset Family in France
The history of the Somerset name in France is deeply tied to the region of Bretagne during the early sixteenth century. By 1506, records indicate that members of the family were established within this coastal territory, likely serving as part of the shifting political and social landscape of the era. At that time, Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural identity that was gradually integrating with the broader French kingdom. Families like the Somersets often moved across the English Channel to manage estates or participate in diplomatic missions between the two nations. Their presence in the region suggests a life defined by travel and the exchange of ideas between French and English circles. This early period highlights how the family name functioned as a bridge between different European societies during a time of significant transition.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, France and England, within a bordure compony ar. and az”
Englandc. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Somerset arms are recorded
The Somerset arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Somerset arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Somerset Family in England
The family name Somerset originates from the historic county of Somerset in South West England, serving as a locative surname for individuals who migrated from that region to other parts of the country. While the name is famously associated with aristocratic lines, many families bearing the name established roots in northern urban centers like York by the early 17th century. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of York, a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration in the north. These early settlers likely arrived in the region seeking new professional opportunities or as part of the internal migration patterns that defined English society during the Stuart period. Their presence in York highlights how a surname rooted in the geography of the south eventually became woven into the fabric of northern English communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sumorsaete
People living in the district of the summer lands.
This name
SomersetDerived from an Old English tribal name referring to inhabitants of Somerset.
also spelled
Sommerset
Summerset
Related arms
Buckleyrecorded with Somerset, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de la famille de Somerset, série E
Le Baud, Pierre, Histoire de Bretagne avec les chroniques des maisons de Vitré et de Laval, 1638
Morice, Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bordureA difference between branches of one family
