Map of France showing where the Coss arms are recorded
The Coss 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 Coss 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 Coss Family in France
The family name Coss has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1725. During the early eighteenth century, this area was a distinct province with its own unique customs and strong ties to the Atlantic trade. Families living in Bretagne at this time were often shaped by the rural landscape and the maritime culture of the coastal towns. The name likely evolved from local dialects or occupational descriptions common to the region, reflecting the daily lives of people working in agriculture or trade. As the family grew, they became part of the long history of the Breton people, contributing to the social fabric of their local parishes through generations of community life. By maintaining their presence in the region, the early members of the Coss family helped preserve the identity of their lineage within the complex history of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
coxa
Latin term referring to the hip or the haunch of a body.
This name
CossA topographic or occupational name for someone living near a hip-shaped hill or a maker of hip-related items.
also spelled
Koss
Coss
Coz
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
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
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.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
