A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Closson family of France.
Reg. 9578 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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)
“D'or à un croiss. de gu., acc. de trois tourt. du même.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Closson Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Closson arms are recorded
The Closson arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Closson 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 France.
Origin & History of the Closson Family in France
The family name Closson is a French surname that likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific location. In the French language, the name is often linked to the word "clos," which refers to an enclosed field or a vineyard. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely farmers or landowners who lived near or managed such properties. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Closson family were well-established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, families in Bretagne were often deeply tied to their local parishes, where they worked the land and participated in the tight-knit social structures of rural France. As the family grew, their name became a permanent marker of their identity, reflecting both their occupation and their long-standing connection to the landscape of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicolas
Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos meaning victory of the people.
This name
ClossonA diminutive form of the name Nicholas, historically used as a patronymic surname.
also spelled
Klosson
Clossone
Kloson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
