A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the St.-Clair family of France.
Reg. 5210 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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.: au 1 et 4 d'azur à un vaisseau d'or, enclos dans un double trêcheur fleur. et c.-fleur. du même (Orkney); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un vaisseau voguant d'or (Caithness). Sur le tout d'arg. à la croix engr. de sa. (Sinclair). C.: un cygne d'arg., coll. d'une couronne d'or, enchaînée du même. S.: deux griffons au nat., bq. d'or. D.: FIGHT.”
Francec. 1488
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Map of France showing where the St.-Clair arms are recorded
The St.-Clair arms were recorded in France, c. 1488.
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.
Charles VIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VIII of France
1483–1498
Reigning in France when the St.-Clair 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 St.-Clair Family in France
The family name St.-Clair traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Brittany, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1488. The name itself is locative, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place or a local saint to identify where a person lived or held land. During the late fifteenth century, the region of Brittany was a distinct duchy with its own unique political traditions and social structure. Families like the St.-Clairs often served as local administrators or landowners who helped manage the rural estates of the province. As they moved through the social hierarchy of the time, they became deeply integrated into the regional culture of western France. By maintaining their presence in this area, the family helped shape the local history of the Breton countryside during a time of significant political transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sanctus Clarus
Latin for holy and bright or clear.
This name
St.-ClairDerived from a place name referring to a saint named Clarus, signifying holy and bright.
also spelled
Saint-Clair
Sain-Clair
Sanclair
Saintclair
Sinclair
Related arms
Sinclair de Longformacusvariant spelling
Sinclair de Stevensonvariant spelling
Sinclair d'Ulstervariant spelling
Sinclairvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dom Morice, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de la famille de Saint-Clair, Série E
Potier de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1846
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
