A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Artois family of France.
Reg. 0469 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au saut. dentelé, acc. en chef et en p. d'un croiss. et à chaque flanc d'une coquille, le tout d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Artois Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Artois arms are recorded
The Artois 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 Artois 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 Artois Family in France
The family name Artois is deeply rooted in the history of northern France, originating from the historic province of Artois. While the name is famously associated with the medieval Counts of Artois, families bearing this surname also established themselves in other regions over the following centuries. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Artois family were living in the province of Bretagne. During this period, families often moved across French provinces for work, military service, or to manage land holdings. Those who settled in Bretagne likely integrated into the local social structure while maintaining the connection to their ancestral name. This migration pattern shows how a surname could spread from its place of origin to distant parts of the country as families sought new opportunities in the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Atrebatum
The ancient Latin name for the region of Arras.
This name
ArtoisRefers to a person originating from the Artois province in northern France.
also spelled
Artoix
Artoys
Artoa
Related arms
Briennerecorded with Artois, same area
* **Champagnerecorded with Artois, same area
Clevesrecorded with Artois, same area
Guyennerecorded with Artois, 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, 1663
Boutier, Jean, Les noms de famille en France: histoire et société, 2006
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
