A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Custy family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7550 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'herm. au chev. de sa., ch. de trois besants-tourteaux fascés-ondés d'arg. et d'azur (Cust); au 2 d'or à un écusson en abîme de sa., acc. d'une orle de huit merlettes du même (Brownlow); au 3 de sa. à la fasce d'herm., acc. en chef de trois croix pattées au pied fiché d'arg. (Payne). C.: une tête de lion de sa., ornée d'un collier palé-ondé d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux lions reg. d'arg., coll. de gu., bouclés d'or. D.: OPERA ILLIUS MEA SUNT [Comp. Egerton comte Brownlow.]”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Custy arms are recorded
The Custy 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 Custy 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 Custy Family in France
The family name Custy has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. During the early 18th century, Brittany was a province defined by its strong maritime culture and distinct regional identity. Families living in this area often worked in trades connected to the rugged coastline or the agricultural lands of the interior. The name likely evolved from local dialects spoken in the western parts of France, reflecting the linguistic shifts common in rural communities of that era. By the time the family appeared in official parish registers in the 1720s, they were part of a stable society that relied on local church records to track births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors lived through a period of transition in French history, maintaining their presence in the region as the kingdom moved toward the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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)
“Cust (of Belton), are, erm. on a chev. sa. three fountains ppr. ; quartering, in consequence of the marriage of Sir R. CUST, Bart., with ANNE, dau. of Sir WILLIAM BROWNLOW, Bart., or, an escutcheon betw. eight martlets sa. Crests—1st: A lion's head erased sa. collared chequy ar. and az. ; 2nd: On a cap of maintenance ppr. a greyhound or. Motto—Opera illius mea sunt.”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Custy arms are recorded
The Custy 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 Custy 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 Custy Family in England
The Custy family name has roots that trace back to the historic city of York in the early 17th century. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established residents within this northern English hub. During this period, York was a center for trade and religious administration, placing the family in a region defined by its medieval architecture and long-standing social structures. While the name is relatively rare, its presence in parish registers and local legal documents from the Stuart era suggests that the family was integrated into the working life of the city. These early ancestors likely navigated the challenges of a changing England, contributing to the local community through their trades and daily labor. Their documented presence in York provides a clear starting point for understanding how the family name first took hold in the English landscape.
Custy Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Coste
Derived from the Latin word costa meaning rib or side of hill.
This name
CustyA topographic name for someone who lived on the side of a hill.
also spelled
Kust
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
