A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Staffa family of France.
Reg. 5172 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un dauphin nageant sur une mer, le tout au nat., acc. en chef de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, rangées entre les quatre pendants d'un lambel de gu. C.: un sauvage iss., tenant un trident.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Staffa arms are recorded
The Staffa arms were recorded in France, 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 Staffa 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 Staffa Family in France
The history of the Staffa family name is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of western France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne. During this era, families in this area often identified themselves through their connection to the land or their specific trade within the local community. The name likely evolved from regional dialects spoken across the Breton countryside, reflecting the unique linguistic blend of Celtic and French influences common to the province. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their parishes, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the coastal villages of the eighteenth century. Their presence in these historical records provides a clear link to the traditions and daily struggles of the people living in Bretagne long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Staph
Derived from the Greek word for a bunch of grapes or cluster.
This name
StaffaA topographic name for someone who lived near a vineyard or a place with grapevines.
also spelled
Conestabile
DellaStaffa
Conestabile dela Stafa
Staffa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B, Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
