A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barrois family of France.
Reg. 4047 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la fasce losangée d'or et de gu., acc. en chef d'un boue naiss. mouv. de la fasce.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1490
Where the Barrois Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Barrois arms are recorded
The Barrois arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1490.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles VIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VIII of France
1483–1498
Reigning in France when the Barrois 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Barrois Family in France
The family name Barrois traces its historical roots to the region of Lorraine in northeastern France. By the year 1490, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this territory. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or locative surname, likely derived from the historical Duchy of Bar, which was a prominent neighboring state during the Middle Ages. Families living in or near this duchy were often identified by the name to distinguish their origin or connection to the local nobility and land. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social and economic life of the Lorraine region, contributing to the local community as landowners and citizens throughout the transition from the medieval period to the Renaissance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bar
A Celtic or Germanic term referring to a summit or hill.
This name
BarroisA topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.
also spelled
Barroi
Barwa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Marianne Mulon, Origine et histoire des noms de famille, 2002
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales de la Meuse, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bullValour and generosity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bullValour and generosity
