A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Terrier family of France.
Reg. 3147 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 trois pals engr. d'or; au chef de gu., ch. de deux étoiles d'or.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Terrier Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Terrier arms are recorded
The Terrier arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Terrier 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Terrier Family in France
The surname Terrier originates from the French word for a burrow or a mound of earth. In medieval times, this name was often given as a nickname to someone who lived near a prominent hill or a burrowing site, or perhaps to a person who worked with the land. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Terrier family were well-established in the region of Normandie. During this period, the family was part of the social and agricultural fabric of northern France. Many individuals with this name were likely involved in farming or trade, contributing to the local economy of their villages. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the traditions and daily life of the Norman countryside, eventually spreading their influence through the generations that followed.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Terra
Latin word meaning earth, land, or soil.
This name
TerrierA topographic name for someone who lived on or worked a patch of land.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
