A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cossin family of France.
falconOne eager and quick in pursuitJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à trois têtes de milan de gu.”
The Cossin arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Cossin 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 Cossin traces its roots to the historic province of Poitou in western France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this region. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, as many surnames from this area were derived from nicknames or specific occupations common to rural French life during the seventeenth century. Life in Poitou at this time was defined by agricultural work and the influence of the local nobility, which shaped the daily experiences of families living in the countryside. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, contributing to the local community long before many members eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Derived from the Greek word for order, beauty, or universe.
