Map of France showing where the Sumner arms are recorded
The Sumner arms were recorded in Massachusetts, 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 Sumner 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 Sumner Family in France
The history of the Sumner family name in France is deeply tied to the rugged and independent region of Bretagne. While the name is often associated with English origins, records confirm that family members were firmly established in this coastal province by 1725. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as skilled tradespeople or farmers. The name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals based on their specific roles or the unique geography of their local parishes. Life in eighteenth-century Bretagne was shaped by strong regional traditions and a distinct cultural identity that set the area apart from the rest of France. By settling in this maritime landscape, the early Sumner family became part of a long history of people who navigated the complex social and economic changes of the French countryside during the early modern period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. two chev. gu”
Englandc. 1826
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Map of England showing where the Sumner arms are recorded
The Sumner arms were recorded in England, c. 1826.
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.
George IV of the United Kingdom
Sovereign of the period
George IV of the United Kingdom
1820–1830
Reigning in France when the Sumner 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 Sumner Family in England
The surname Sumner is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It is derived from the Middle English word "sumnour," which referred to a minor official in an ecclesiastical court. This person was responsible for summoning individuals to appear before a judge to answer for their actions. Because the church played a central role in daily life during the Middle Ages, these officials were common figures in towns and villages across the country. By the time the family was firmly established in York during the early nineteenth century, the name had long transitioned from a job title to a hereditary surname. Families bearing this name often settled in northern England, where they contributed to the local community as tradespeople and laborers. This history reflects the broader movement of English families who moved from specific vocational roles into the permanent family lineages that define modern genealogy.
Sumner Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
summonitor
A Latin term for an official who summons people to court.
This name
SumnerAn occupational surname for a summoner or a legal officer responsible for serving court writs.
also spelled
Sumnere
Sumnar
Sumnare
Somner
Sumnor
Related arms
Somnervariant spelling
Summersvariant spelling
Endecottrecorded with Sumner, same area
Haynesrecorded with Sumner, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Finistère, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne, 1725
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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