A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crux family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0411 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux bandes d'arg., acc. de sept coquilles du même, rangées en bandes, 1, 3 et 3.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Crux Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Crux arms are recorded
The Crux arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Crux 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Crux Family in France
The family name Crux carries a deep connection to the northern region of France known as Normandie. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this area. The name itself is rooted in the Latin word for cross, which suggests that early ancestors may have been associated with religious life or lived near a prominent landmark such as a roadside cross. During the seventeenth century, the people of Normandie lived through a time of significant agricultural development and social change. Families like the Crux clan were often tied to the land and local parish communities, where they played a role in the daily life and labor of their villages. As they moved through the generations in this coastal province, the family helped shape the local culture and history of the region before some eventually looked toward new opportunities in other parts of the world.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a pale sa. an eagle displ. betw. two crosses formée of the first, a bordure of the second”
KentGreenhouse · Kent, c. 1630
Where the Crux Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Crux arms are recorded
The Crux arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1630.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Crux 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Crux Family in England
The surname Crux has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1630. The name itself is likely derived from the Latin word for cross, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent roadside marker or a local church landmark. During the seventeenth century, families in Kent were often tied to the land through farming and trade, benefiting from the region's proximity to the busy ports and the bustling city of London. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and civic life of the English countryside. By settling in this specific corner of England, the early members of the Crux family helped shape the history of their local parishes and established a lasting presence that would endure for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crux
Latin term referring to a cross or a gibbet.
This name
CruxA topographic or occupational name for someone living near a cross or a cross-bearer.
also spelled
Krux
Cruxx
Cru
Crucks
Cruxxe
Related arms
Hankinsrecorded with Crux, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
