A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thomas family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 5800 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
What the shield shows
A red background with a broken silver arrow set like a chevron, and three gold stars around it.
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une flèche brisée d'arg., posée en chev. et acc. de trois étoiles d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1510
Where the Thomas Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Thomas arms are recorded
The Thomas arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1510.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Thomas 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Thomas Family in France
PronunciationTOM-uhs/ˈtɒməs/
The name Thomas originated as a given name derived from the Aramaic word for twin. During the Middle Ages, it became a popular personal name across Europe due to the influence of Saint Thomas the Apostle. In France, the name transitioned from a first name to a hereditary surname as populations grew and record-keeping became more formal. By the time the name was established in the Lorraine region in the early 16th century, it was already well-integrated into the local social fabric.
In the context of 1510 Lorraine, families bearing the name Thomas were often part of the rural or merchant classes. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of culture and trade between the French-speaking territories and the Holy Roman Empire. Families with this name were likely involved in agriculture, local crafts, or the administration of village affairs. As the name became fixed as a surname, it helped distinguish specific family lines within the growing towns and parishes of the region. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant political transition as the Duchy of Lorraine navigated its unique position in European history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
What the shield shows
A silver background with a blue chevron with a scalloped edge, carrying two griffins of the background colour facing each other, each with two red bands round its neck. A blue strip along the top holds three gold five-petalled flowers, each pierced at the centre.
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a chev. engr. az. two griffins rencontrant combatant of the field, gorged with two bars gu. on a chief of the second three cinquefoils pierced or”
BreconLlwyn Madoc · Brecon, c. 1647
Where the Thomas Arms Were Recorded
Brecon
Map of Wales showing where the Thomas arms are recorded
The Thomas arms were recorded in Brecon, c. 1647.
Brecon was mid-Welsh hill country, held in small estates by families who stayed for generations. Land was worth less than in the lowlands, but holding it still brought 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Thomas arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Brecon.
Origin & History of the Thomas Family in Wales
PronunciationTOM-uhs/ˈtɒməs/
The name Thomas is derived from the Aramaic word for twin. It became a popular personal name across Europe following the spread of Christianity and the veneration of Saint Thomas the Apostle. In Wales, the name followed a unique path during the Middle Ages. Before the widespread use of fixed surnames, the Welsh relied on a patronymic system where a person was identified by their father’s name, such as Thomas ap Rhys. It was only after the influence of English administrative practices that families began to adopt Thomas as a permanent hereditary surname.
By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established among families in North Wales. Records from the Denbigh area in 1620 show that individuals bearing the name Thomas were active members of the local community. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social changes as land ownership and legal records became more formalized under the Crown. Families living in Denbigh at this time were often involved in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the growth of the town. These early records serve as a vital link, showing how the name transitioned from a simple patronymic reference into a lasting family identity that has persisted for centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
What the shield shows
A background split down the middle, silver on one side and black on the other, with a chevron and three Cornish choughs. Each takes the opposite colour to the half it stands on, and their beaks and legs are red.
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per pale ar. and sa. a chev. betw. three Cornish choughs all counterchanged, beaked and legged gu”
KentWrotham · Kent, c. 1574
Where the Thomas Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Thomas arms are recorded
The Thomas arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1574.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in France when the Thomas 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Thomas Family in England
PronunciationTOM-uhs/ˈtɒməs/
The name Thomas originates from the Aramaic word for twin. It became a popular given name across Europe following the life of the biblical apostle Saint Thomas. In England, the name grew in prominence after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was common for people to adopt the first names of their fathers as surnames during the Middle Ages. This process, known as patronymics, turned the name Thomas into a family identifier for many households across the country.
By the late sixteenth century, the Thomas family had established a clear presence in the county of Herefordshire. Records from 1574 confirm that members of the family were living and working in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. At this time, families were often deeply rooted in their local parishes, where they contributed to the agricultural and social life of the community. These early records provide a snapshot of the family as they transitioned from using the name as a simple reference to a formal inherited surname.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Toma
Aramaic word meaning twin.
This name
ThomasDerived from the Aramaic name meaning twin, popularized by the biblical apostle.
also spelled
Tomas
Thomes
Related arms
Thomaz de Bossièrevariant spelling
Thoma zu Trevesen und Gemündvariant spelling
Tomásvariant spelling
Thomsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
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arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cinquefoilHope and joy
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence