A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Contes family of France.
treeLife, endurance and deep rootsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au créquier de gu. Cri: CREQUY !”
The Contes arms were recorded in Artois, c. 1663.
Artois lay on the disputed ground between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms, and a shield was how a fighting household was known.
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.
Reigning in France when the Contes arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Contes traces its roots to the historic province of Artois in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this region. During the seventeenth century, Artois was a landscape defined by shifting borders and frequent military conflicts between the French crown and the Spanish Netherlands. Families living in this area often worked in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the resilient character of the northern French provinces. The name itself is linked to the geography of the land, as it likely identified individuals who lived near or originated from specific local settlements. Over time, the family members became deeply woven into the social fabric of Artois, maintaining their presence through generations of regional change.
Latin term for a companion or attendant to a high official.
