A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Curto family of France.
Reg. 0517 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 à la fasce ondée d'arg., acc. en chef d'un crocodile pass. d'or et en p. d'un grèlier d'or, l'embouchure à dextre.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Curto Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Curto arms are recorded
The Curto 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 Curto 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 Curto Family in France
The surname Curto is rooted in the Latin word curtus, which means short or stunted. In the medieval period, this term was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person of short stature or someone who possessed a blunt or direct personality. By the time the family was documented in the Bretagne region of France in 1725, the name had evolved from a simple nickname into a formal hereditary surname. Families bearing this name during the eighteenth century were typically part of the rural population, often working as laborers or tradespeople within the local parish systems. Because the name was tied to a common physical trait, it appeared independently in various regions across Europe, meaning that different branches of the Curto family often share a linguistic origin rather than a single common ancestor. Over time, these families became deeply integrated into the social and agricultural life of their specific provinces, leaving behind records in local church registers that track their marriages, births, and daily contributions to their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Curtus
Latin term meaning short, abbreviated, or cut off.
This name
CurtoA descriptive nickname for a person of short stature or small physical build.
also spelled
Kurto
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
