A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coeur family of France.
Reg. 3157 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 d'arg., ch. de trois coquilles de sa. et acc. de trois coeurs de gu. D.: A COEUR VAILLANT RIEN IMPOSSIBLE.”
BerryBerry, c. 1663
Where the Coeur Arms Were Recorded
Berry
Map of France showing where the Coeur arms are recorded
The Coeur arms were recorded in Berry, c. 1663.
Berry was central French farming country, quiet and long-settled. Its estates were modest and stayed in the same hands for centuries, and steady landholding of that kind is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Coeur 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 Berry.
Origin & History of the Coeur Family in France
The family name Coeur is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Berry province in central France. While the name is famously associated with the medieval merchant Jacques Coeur, records confirm that specific branches of the family were firmly established in the Berry region by 1663. During this period, the name was often linked to individuals who served in local administrative or agricultural roles within the rural communities of the Loire Valley. Because the word coeur means heart in French, it likely began as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their courage or kindness. Over generations, this nickname transitioned into a formal surname as families settled into permanent homes and began appearing in local parish registers. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Coeur family had become a recognized part of the provincial social fabric, contributing to the local economy and the development of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cor
Latin term referring to the heart or the center of life.
This name
CoeurA nickname for a person with a brave, kind, or generous disposition.
also spelled
Cueur
Koeur
Kur
Cuer
Related arms
Farroullsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Cher, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Berry, 1663
Mollat, Michel, Jacques Coeur: ou l'esprit d'entreprise au XVe siècle, 1988
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
