A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cosenza family of France.
Reg. 1992 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. semé d'étoiles de sa.; au lion du même, arm., lamp. et cour. de gu., br. sur le tout. T.: deux sauvages de carn. D.: NEQUE AURUM HONORA, NEQUE ARGENTUM.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Cosenza arms are recorded
The Cosenza 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 Cosenza 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 Cosenza Family in France
The family name Cosenza originates from the ancient city of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy, where it functioned as a locative surname to identify individuals who migrated from that area. While the name is deeply rooted in Italian geography, historical records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the Brittany region of France by 1725. This migration likely occurred due to the movement of merchants, soldiers, or craftsmen who traveled along European trade routes during the early eighteenth century. Once in Brittany, these individuals integrated into local society while maintaining their connection to their ancestral Italian identity. The survival of the name in French parish records from this era highlights how families carried their regional heritage across borders as they settled into new communities.
Cosenza Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Constantia
Derived from the Latin word for steadfastness or constancy.
This name
CosenzaA locative surname originating from the city of Cosenza in Italy.
also spelled
Kosnac
Cosnack
Cosnak
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
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Fucilla, Joseph G., Our Italian Surnames, 1949
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
