A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crèvecoeur family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7470 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
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)
“De gu. à trois chev. d'or. C.: deux bras, parés de manches étroites d'or, sous d'autres manches larges et courtes d'azur, rebr. d'herm., les mains de carn. pressant un coeur crevé de gu., dégouttant de sang. Cri: LA TOUR LANDRY!”
ArtoisBeauvoisis · Artois, c. 1663
Where the Crèvecoeur Arms Were Recorded
Artois
Map of France showing where the Crèvecoeur arms are recorded
The Crèvecoeur arms were recorded in Artois, c. 1663.
Artois lay on the disputed ground between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms, and a shield was how a fighting household was known.
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 Crèvecoeur 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 Artois.
Origin & History of the Crèvecoeur Family in France
The name Crèvecoeur originates from the northern regions of France, specifically the historical province of Artois. The name itself is a descriptive compound word that translates literally to "heart-break," likely serving as a nickname for an ancestor who endured great sorrow or perhaps lived in a location known for its difficult terrain. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within the social and administrative structures of Artois. During this period, the region was a complex landscape of shifting borders and feudal loyalties between the French crown and the Spanish Netherlands. Families like the Crèvecoeurs often served as local landholders or minor officials who navigated these political changes while maintaining their ancestral roots in the fertile, contested plains of northern France. Their presence in the seventeenth century suggests a long-standing connection to the local rural economy and the regional governance of the Artois territory.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, (another, ar.) a cross voided gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Crèvecoeur Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Crèvecoeur arms are recorded
The Crèvecoeur arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Crèvecoeur arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Crèvecoeur Family in England
The surname Crèvecoeur originates from the French language and translates literally to "heartbreak." While the name is deeply rooted in continental Europe, its presence in England became notable by the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were living in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York served as a major northern hub for trade and administration, making it a common destination for families moving across the English Channel. These early settlers likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes, adapting to English life while maintaining their distinct ancestral name. Over time, the family name became a part of the local social fabric in Yorkshire, reflecting the broader movement of people and ideas between France and England during the Renaissance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crever and Coeur
To break or burst and the heart or spirit.
This name
CrèvecoeurA locative surname referring to a place that causes heartbreak or intense sorrow.
also spelled
Crevecour
Krevker
Crevecur
Crevcure
Crevaquer
Related arms
Crevaquervariant spelling
Crevcurevariant spelling
Crevecœurvariant spelling
Crevequer, and Creverquerevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Du Chastel de la Howarderie, Paul, Notices généalogiques tournaisiennes, 1881
Le Boucq de Ternas, Jean, Recueil de la noblesse de Flandre, de Hainaut et d'Artois, 1854
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
