Map of France showing where the Cohoe arms are recorded
The Cohoe arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Cohoe 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Cohoe Family in France
The family name Cohoe is rooted in the historical landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the region was a distinct cultural hub known for its strong maritime traditions and unique linguistic heritage. Families living in Brittany often derived their names from local geography, occupational titles, or descriptive nicknames that reflected their daily lives in rural villages. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they likely participated in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined the Breton countryside. Over time, the name evolved as it moved across borders, eventually adapting to the phonetic patterns of new regions while maintaining its connection to its original French ancestry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cahouet
Derived from the Old French word for a small owl or bird.
This name
CohoeA topographic or occupational surname likely referring to someone who lived near an owl habitat.
also spelled
Cohuee
Cohu
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Galliou, Patrick, Les Bretons, 1984
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
