A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Curtiss family of France.
Reg. 8968 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au chev. vivré d'or, acc. de trois couronnes murales du même.”
FranceNew-York, c. 1725
Where the Curtiss Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Curtiss arms are recorded
The Curtiss arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Curtiss 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 Curtiss Family in France
The family name Curtiss is rooted in the Old French word curteis, which describes a person who possesses refined manners or courtly behavior. By the early eighteenth century, families bearing variations of this name were well established in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. During this period, the area was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural tradition, which likely shaped the daily lives of those living there in 1725. As the name spread through different regions, it often adapted to local dialects and spelling conventions. This evolution reflects the movement of people across borders and the way that personal traits eventually became permanent family identifiers. The history of the name is a reflection of how social status and character traits were recorded in official documents long before modern surnames were standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curtis
Derived from the Old French word meaning courtly or refined.
This name
CurtissRefers to a person who served in a noble court or possessed refined, courteous manners.
also spelled
Kurtiss
Curtis
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
