Map of France showing where the Turin arms are recorded
The Turin arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Turin 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Turin Family in France
The history of the Turin family in North America begins in the mid-seventeenth century, specifically with records placing family members in the Maine territory by 1663. During this era, Maine was a rugged frontier region where settlers often lived in small, isolated coastal communities. The name itself likely traces its origins to European roots, potentially linked to the city of Turin in Italy or derived from Old French and Germanic terms related to local geography or specific trades. As these early settlers established themselves in the harsh climate of New England, they became part of the first generation of families to build permanent lives in the region. Their presence in 1663 suggests they were among the early pioneers who navigated the complex political and social landscape of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which held jurisdiction over Maine at that time. By settling in this area, the early Turin family members contributed to the foundational development of colonial society through farming, fishing, and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Turinus
Derived from the Latin word for someone from the city Turin.
This name
TurinA locative surname indicating ancestral origins from the Italian city of Turin.
also spelled
Turine
Turinn
Turyn
Related arms
Thurinvariant spelling
Thurin de Jarnossevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Banks, Charles Edward, History of York, Maine, 1931
Maine State Archives, York Deeds, 1642–1737
Noyes, Sybil, Charles Thornton Libby, and Walter Goodwin Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, 1928
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
