A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cousteau family of France.
Reg. 1482 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 vairé d'arg. et d'azur de trois tires; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un casque grillé d'arg., taré de profil.”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1663
Where the Cousteau Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Cousteau arms are recorded
The Cousteau arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to arms.
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 Cousteau 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Cousteau Family in France
The family name Cousteau is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of the Auvergne region in central France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in this area as early as 1663. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Old French word couste, which referred to a slope or a hillside. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely lived or worked on the steep, mountainous terrain that defines the Auvergne countryside. Over the centuries, the family remained connected to this rural environment, living as part of the local community long before the name gained international recognition. By tracing their origins to this specific region, we can see how the name reflects the geography and the traditional way of life of the people who first carried it.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
costa
Latin term referring to a rib, side, or slope of land.
This name
CousteauA topographic name for someone who lived on a hillside or riverbank.
also spelled
Coustault
Coustaux
Kusto
Costeau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, 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.
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
