A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cossé family of France.
Reg. 8077 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à trois fasces d'or, denchées par le bas. C.: une aigle iss. au nat. S.: deux aigles au nat., cour. d'or et coll. d'une autre couronne du même. D.: ÆQUABO SI FAVEAS.”
Francec. 1560
Where the Cossé Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cossé arms are recorded
The Cossé arms were recorded in France, c. 1560.
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.
Francis II of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis II of France
1559–1560
Reigning in France when the Cossé 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 Cossé Family in France
The family name Cossé has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where members of the family were firmly established by the middle of the sixteenth century. During this period, the name was closely linked to the social and political landscape of the province, reflecting the influence of families who held land and served in local administrative roles. As the family grew, they became integrated into the regional fabric of Bretagne, often appearing in legal documents and parish registers that tracked the lives of local residents. These early generations were part of a broader movement of families who helped shape the local culture and economy of the area during the Renaissance. By settling in this coastal region, the family established a lasting presence that would continue to evolve throughout the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
coxa
Latin term referring to the hip or thigh bone.
This name
CosséA topographic name for someone living near a hip-shaped hill or a bend in a river.
also spelled
Cossee
Kossee
Cossay
Cosay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Poterie, Hyacinthe de la, Les noms de famille bretons, 1945
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série G: Clergé séculier
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
