A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Covi family of France.
Reg. 8030 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à l'aigle cont. de sa., cour. du champ; au 2 d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., surm. d'une couronne impériale; au 3 d'arg. à une couleuvre ondoyante en pal d'azur, engloutissant un enfant de gu.; au 4 d'azur à un faisceau de trois épis effeuillés d'or, lié du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Covi Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Covi arms are recorded
The Covi arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Covi 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 Covi Family in France
The family name Covi traces its roots to the historical landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During this period, the region was defined by a strong maritime culture and a deep connection to the land, which likely shaped the daily lives of those bearing the name. The name itself is thought to have evolved from local linguistic roots common to the northwestern provinces of France, reflecting the specific dialects spoken by the rural populations of the eighteenth century. As families in Brittany were often tied to specific parishes, the Covi name likely served as a way to identify members within their local community and trade networks. By settling in this rugged coastal area, early ancestors were part of a resilient society that navigated both the challenges of provincial life and the shifting political tides of the French kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Covinus
Derived from the Latin word for a chariot or carriage.
This name
CoviA topographic or occupational name referring to someone who lived near a carriage path or worked as a carriage maker.
also spelled
Covy
Kovee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de la série E, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
