A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cucé family of France.
Reg. 3926 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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)
“De gu. au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois bill. du même. - Ou: Bandé d'arg. et de gu., la première bande ch. d'un lion de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Cucé Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cucé arms are recorded
The Cucé arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Cucé 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Cucé Family in France
The family name Cucé traces its roots to the historic region of Brittany in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this area, living among the unique cultural landscape of the Breton people. During the seventeenth century, the name was closely tied to the local geography and the rural traditions of the countryside. Families in this region often lived in small, tightly knit communities where they worked the land or participated in local trade. As the name became more recognized in official parish registers, it helped define the identity of these early ancestors who navigated the social and political shifts of the French provinces. The history of the Cucé name is therefore deeply connected to the resilience and endurance of families living in Brittany during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cucullus
Latin term for a hood, cowl, or a hooded garment.
This name
CucéA topographic or occupational surname referring to someone who wore a hood or lived near a hooded landmark.
also spelled
Cusse
Cussey
Cusay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Poterie, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
