Map of France showing where the Viens arms are recorded
The Viens arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Viens 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 Viens Family in France
The family name Viens traces its roots to the historic region of Brittany in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old French word "vien," which was often used as a descriptive term or a nickname for a person who had traveled from a specific place. During the seventeenth century, many families in Brittany lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or artisans. Life in this region was deeply influenced by the rugged landscape and the strong cultural traditions of the Breton people. As the seventeenth century progressed, some members of the Viens family chose to leave their ancestral home to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic, eventually helping to shape the early colonial history of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vienne
Derived from the Latin name Vienna referring to a river settlement.
This name
ViensA topographic name for someone who lived near the Vienne river in France.
also spelled
Vyens
Vienne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Archives nationales du Québec, Fonds du Conseil souverain
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
