A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Anto family of France.
Reg. 5571 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à l'aigle d'arg., m. d'or.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Anto Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Anto arms are recorded
The Anto 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 Anto 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 Anto Family in France
The family name Anto traces its roots back to the mountainous region of Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which was known for its rugged terrain and distinct local customs. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities that relied on agriculture and trade along the alpine routes. The name likely evolved from regional naming traditions or local linguistic variations common to the inhabitants of the Dauphiné province. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and historical developments of a landscape defined by its proximity to the Alps. Their presence in 1663 places them in a time of significant transition for the French provinces, as the central government began to exert more influence over local populations and record-keeping practices.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Antonius
A Roman family name of uncertain, possibly Etruscan, origin.
This name
AntoA French diminutive form derived from the Latin name meaning highly praiseworthy or priceless.
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, Collection de l'Intendance de Dauphiné
Baudet, Guy, Histoire du Dauphiné, 1970
Bligny, Bernard, Histoire des provinces de France: Dauphiné, 1973
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
