A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Auxerre family of France.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à la bande d'or.”
The Auxerre arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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.
Reigning in France when the Auxerre arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Auxerre originates from the ancient city of the same name located in the Burgundy region of France. During the seventeenth century, the name functioned as a locative surname, which was a common way to identify individuals by the town where they were born or where they held property. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within the social and economic landscape of Bourgogne. At this time, the region was a center for viticulture and trade, and families living there were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy. Because the name is tied directly to a specific geographic location, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely residents of the city of Auxerre before migrating to other parts of the province. Over generations, the name transitioned from a simple description of origin into a permanent family identifier that linked these individuals to the history and culture of the Burgundian countryside.
A Gallo-Roman settlement name derived from a local deity.
