A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ardoin family of France.
Reg. 7127 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. au lévrier ramp. de sa. (de gu.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Ardoin Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Ardoin arms are recorded
The Ardoin arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Ardoin 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Ardoin Family in France
The Ardoin family name has deep roots in the Languedoc region of southern France, where records confirm their presence as early as 1663. The name itself is derived from the ancient Germanic name Hardwin, which combines the elements for hardy or brave and friend. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in rural communities focused on agriculture and trade. As the Ardoin family established themselves in Languedoc, they became part of the local social fabric that defined provincial life before the French Revolution. Over time, members of the family moved through the region, eventually carrying their name across the Atlantic to settle in new territories, including colonial Louisiana. This movement reflects the broader patterns of migration that defined many French families during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as they sought new opportunities beyond their ancestral homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Harduin
Derived from Germanic elements meaning brave or hardy friend.
This name
ArdoinA French surname originating from a personal name signifying a bold or courageous protector.
also spelled
Ardoine
Ardoinn
Ardoi
Ardwah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ardoin, Jean-Pierre. Les familles du Languedoc au XVIIe siècle. 1994
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
