Map of France showing where the Courville arms are recorded
The Courville arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Courville 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 Courville Family in France
The family name Courville originates from the historic region of Bretagne in France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal province. The name itself is topographical, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place or estate known as a "court ville," which translates to a farmstead or a small settlement. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in rural communities centered around agriculture and local trade. As the family grew, individuals began to move from their ancestral lands in Bretagne to other parts of the French kingdom and eventually across the Atlantic to New France. This migration was common for families seeking new opportunities in the expanding colonies, and it helped spread the name across different regions while maintaining its deep roots in French history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curtis villa
A farmstead or estate belonging to a court or manor.
This name
CourvilleRefers to a person who originated from a specific village or estate associated with a manor.
also spelled
Bardin-Courville
Bardin
Bardini de Courvil
Courville
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Archives nationales du Québec, Registres paroissiaux et actes d'état civil du Québec (Collection Drouin)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
