A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Canu family of France.
Reg. 7418 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au lion d'or; au chef du même.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Canu Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Canu arms are recorded
The Canu arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Canu 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Canu Family in France
The surname Canu has deep roots in the northern regions of France, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in the province of Normandie by 1663. The name is believed to be a descriptive nickname that evolved from the Old French word *canu*, which translates to white-haired or hoary. In medieval society, such names were often given to individuals to distinguish them from others in a small community, likely highlighting a person with prematurely gray hair or a distinguished appearance. As the family grew, they became part of the agricultural and social fabric of the Norman countryside, living through a period of significant regional change. By the mid-17th century, the Canu name was already firmly anchored in the local parish registers, reflecting a long history of settlement in this coastal area of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Canus
Latin term meaning grey, hoary, or white-haired.
This name
CanuA descriptive nickname for an individual with grey or white hair.
also spelled
Kanue
Canue
Canus
Kanu
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
