A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Winthrop family of France.
Reg. 9779 · French, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. à trois chev. crén. de gu.; au lion de sa., arm. et lamp. d'azur, br. sur le tout, et un lambel de gu. en chef. C.: un lièvre courant au nat., sur une terrasse de sin. D.: SPES VINCIT THRONUM.”
FranceMassachusetts, c. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Winthrop arms are recorded
The Winthrop arms were recorded in Massachusetts, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Winthrop 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 Winthrop Family in France
The family name Winthrop has deep roots that stretch across centuries and borders. While the name is often associated with English history, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by the year 1725. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or local tradespeople. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic roots, reflecting the movement of people across the English Channel between Britain and France. As these early ancestors settled into their lives in the French countryside, they became part of a long tradition of families who maintained their identity through generations of change and migration. By studying these records, we can see how the family name survived and adapted as it moved through different cultural landscapes in Europe.
Winthrop Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
wynne thorp
Old English for a friendly or joyous village or farmstead.
This name
WinthropDerived from a place name signifying a settlement belonging to a friendly person.
also spelled
Winthropp
Wintrop
Winthrope
Related arms
Endecottrecorded with Winthrop, same area
Haynesrecorded with Winthrop, same area
Hutchinsonrecorded with Winthrop, same area
Sumnerrecorded with Winthrop, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Mayer, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1974
Ploix, Charles, Les familles de la Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1988
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
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
