A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cos family of France.
Reg. 3255 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un ours pass. d'or, la tête surm. d'une fleur-de-lis du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Cos Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cos arms are recorded
The Cos arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cos 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 Cos Family in France
The family name Cos has deep roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. In the Breton language, the word *koz* translates to old or ancient, which suggests that the name may have originally served as a descriptive nickname for a respected elder or a long-standing resident of a village. During the eighteenth century, life in this part of France was defined by the rugged Atlantic coastline and a strong connection to local agricultural and maritime traditions. Families in this region often lived in tight-knit rural communities where surnames were frequently derived from personal traits or specific geographic landmarks. By establishing their presence in the historical records of Bretagne during the early 1700s, the Cos family became part of a distinct cultural landscape that has maintained its unique linguistic and social identity for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cosa
Latin term referring to a thing, object, or property.
This name
CosA topographic name for someone living near a small hill or a rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Koss
Coss
Coz
Related arms
Coz (le) de Bourgerelvariant spelling
Coz (le) de Kerlenvariant spelling
Coz (le) du Coulombiervariant spelling
Kossvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Les noms de lieux bretons, 1975
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
