A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Courtemanche family of France.
Reg. 7276 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. au saut. de gu., ch. de cinq bes. d'or.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Courtemanche Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Courtemanche arms are recorded
The Courtemanche arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Courtemanche 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Courtemanche Family in France
The family name Courtemanche originated in France and carries a meaning rooted in the descriptive language of the Middle Ages. The name is a combination of the French words court, meaning short, and manche, meaning sleeve. This suggests that the name likely began as a nickname for an ancestor who wore short sleeves, perhaps due to their trade or a specific style of dress. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Franche-Comté region, a historical province located in eastern France near the border of Switzerland. During this period, families in this area were often tied to the land and local agricultural traditions. As the family grew, they maintained their presence in the region before some members eventually migrated to other parts of the world, carrying their distinctive name with them.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
court
Derived from the Latin curtis meaning an enclosed yard or farmstead.
This name
CourtemancheRefers to a person who lived near a farmstead or a short-statured individual.
also spelled
Courtemans
Kurtemansh
Cortemanche
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales du Doubs. Registres paroissiaux et état civil de la Franche-Comté. 1663
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
