A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Tracey family of France.
Reg. 2481 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or à deux cotices de gu., et une coquille de sa. en bande, posée en chef entre les cotices; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au chev. de sa., ch. de trois étoiles du champ et acc. de trois étoiles de sa. C.: une coquille de sa., entre un vol d'or; le tout soutenu d'un chapeau de tournoi de gu., retr. d'herm. D.: MEMORIA PII ÆTERNA.”
Francec. 1612
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Map of France showing where the Tracey arms are recorded
The Tracey arms were recorded in France, c. 1612.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in France when the Tracey 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 Tracey Family in France
The surname Tracey has deep roots that stretch across the English Channel, connecting families in both England and the region of Brittany in France. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Brittany by 1612. The name itself is thought to be locational, likely originating from a place called Tracy in Normandy. When families moved from these French lands into other regions, the name evolved through different spellings as it was recorded by local clerks. These early ancestors were often landowners or people of local influence who played a role in the social structure of their communities. Over time, the family name became a permanent marker of their heritage, linking their descendants back to these specific historical movements between France and the British Isles.
Tracey Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Thracius
A Latin term referring to someone from the region of Thrace.
This name
TraceyDerived from a place name in Normandy, signifying a path or a summer pasture.
also spelled
Tracey
Tracie
Trasey
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Morice, Pierre-Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
