A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dahuff family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0629 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'or au lion de gu. (Macduff); aux 2 et 3 de sin. à la fasce vivrée d'herm., acc. en chef d'un rencontre de cerf d'or et en p. de deux coquilles du même (Duff). C.: 1° un cheval galopant d'arg., la housse de gu. semée d'écussons d'or ch. chacun d'un lion de gu.; le cheval monté par un chevalier, arm. de toutes pièces, tenant de sa main dextre une épée haute et de sa sen. un bouclier de gu. semé d'écussons pareils”
Francec. 1735
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Dahuff arms are recorded
The Dahuff arms were recorded in France, c. 1735.
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 Dahuff 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 Dahuff Family in France
The family name Dahuff finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne during the early eighteenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this northwestern region of France by 1735. At that time, the people of Bretagne lived in a society deeply connected to the land and the sea. Families often identified themselves based on their specific village or their trade within the local parish. The name likely evolved as a way to distinguish this particular lineage among the dense population of the Breton countryside. Life in this province was shaped by strong regional traditions and a unique cultural identity that set it apart from the rest of the kingdom. By settling in this area, the early Dahuff family became part of a long history of resilience and community life that defined the Breton people during the pre-revolutionary era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert a fess dancettée erm. betw. a buck's head cabossed in chief and two escallops in base or”
BanffKeithmore · Banff, c. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Scotland showing where the Dahuff arms are recorded
The Dahuff arms were recorded in Banff, c. 1748.
Banffshire was farming and fishing country on Scotland's north-east coast. Its landed families were long-settled and closely related, and each line recorded arms to be told apart from the rest.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in France when the Dahuff arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Banff.
Origin & History of the Dahuff Family in Scotland
The history of the Dahuff name in Scotland is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Banff, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1748. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Aberdeenshire often lived in close-knit communities centered around fishing and small-scale agriculture. The name likely evolved as a localized variation of older Scottish or Northern European surnames, shaped by the unique dialect and phonetic spelling habits of the era. Life in Banff during this period was defined by the rugged North Sea environment, which required families to be resilient and adaptable. As members of this lineage settled into the local parish, they became part of the social fabric of the town, contributing to the growth and daily activities of the community long before the industrial changes of the following century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert a fesse dancettée erm. betw. a buck's head cabossed in chief and two escallops in base or, all within a bordure of the last”
Englandc. 1781
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Dahuff arms are recorded
The Dahuff arms were recorded in England, c. 1781.
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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in France when the Dahuff 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 Dahuff Family in England
The family name Dahuff appears in the historical record of northern England during the late eighteenth century, specifically within the city of York. By 1781, members of the family were established residents in this historic region, which served as a major hub for trade and administration. During this period, York was undergoing significant social changes as the Industrial Revolution began to reshape urban life. Families like the Dahuffs were often part of the growing class of skilled workers or tradespeople who kept the city functioning. While the name is rare, its presence in York suggests that the family was integrated into the local community during a time of great national transition. Their early documented history reflects the lives of ordinary citizens who contributed to the development of one of England’s oldest and most significant cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
D'Huve
Derived from the Old French word for a measure of land.
This name
DahuffRefers to a person who lived on or worked a specific unit of land.
also spelled
Duffe
Dufff
Duf
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
Le Goff, T. J. A., Vannes and its Region: A Study of Town and Country in Eighteenth-Century France, 1981
Meyer, Jean, La noblesse bretonne au XVIIIe siècle, 1966
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.