A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clos family of France.
Reg. 4061 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au chev. de gu., surm. d'une molette du même et acc. de trois coquilles de sa.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Clos Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Clos arms are recorded
The Clos 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 Clos 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 Clos Family in France
The surname Clos originated in France and is rooted in the medieval landscape of the region. The name is topographic, meaning it was likely given to families who lived near or worked on a "clos," which was a common term for an enclosed field or a vineyard surrounded by walls. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the province of Normandie. Historical records confirm that members of the Clos family were living in this northern coastal region by 1663. During this period, families in Normandie were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy, and the name served as a practical way to identify people based on their proximity to these specific fenced plots of land. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Norman society, contributing to the rural traditions that defined the area during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clausum
Latin term meaning an enclosed area, barrier, or boundary.
This name
ClosRefers to a person who lived near an enclosed field or a gated property.
also spelled
Klos
Klo
Close
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
