Map of France showing where the Ant arms are recorded
The Ant arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Ant 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Ant Family in France
The family name Ant finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of the Dauphiné region in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were already established residents within this mountainous area. During the seventeenth century, the Dauphiné was a place of significant social change and religious tension, which often influenced how families moved and settled. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects or descriptive nicknames common to the people living in the Alpine foothills. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of rural life, participating in the agricultural and community traditions that defined the region. Their presence in the area during this period suggests they were deeply connected to the land and the shifting political landscape of the French provinces under the reign of Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Antonius
A Roman family name of uncertain Etruscan origin.
This name
AntA topographic name for someone living near a place frequented by ants or a nickname for a busy person.
also spelled
Antoe
Antoo
Antou
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
