A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barcos family of France.
Reg. 5246 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'or et de gu.; au saut. brét. de l'un en l'autre.”
Ile-de-FranceIle-de-France, c. 1663
Where the Barcos Arms Were Recorded
Ile-de-France
Map of France showing where the Barcos arms are recorded
The Barcos arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Barcos 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Barcos Family in France
The surname Barcos carries a rich history rooted in the landscape of northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within the Ile-de-France region, which includes the area surrounding Paris. The name itself is thought to be topographical, likely derived from the Old French or Occitan words related to boats or river vessels. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near important waterways or worked in professions connected to river transport, which was the primary method for moving goods and people during the seventeenth century. As the family settled into the social fabric of the region, they became part of the local administrative and parish life that defined the era. Their presence in this central hub of French history highlights a long-standing connection to the development of the nation during a time of significant cultural and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barca
A Latin term referring to a small boat or barge.
This name
BarcosA topographic name for someone who lived near a boat landing or worked as a boatman.
also spelled
Barcoss
Barcose
Barcous
Barkos
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series ET/LXXIII
Boulanger, Jean-François, La vie quotidienne en Île-de-France au XVIIe siècle, 1998
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
