A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Decou family of France.
Reg. 2268 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à un coeur de gu., surmontant un croiss. de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or; au 2 et 3 d'azur à une tour d'or, flanquant un avant-mur crén. du même, mouv. du flanc de l'écu; le tout iss. d'une eau au nat.; au 4 de sa. à une momie égyptienne d'or, posée en pal, accostée de douze fers de lance, rangés en quatre pals.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Decou arms are recorded
The Decou 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 Decou 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 Decou Family in France
The family name Decou traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name itself likely evolved as a descriptive term, often used in old French to identify individuals who lived near a specific landmark or a particular type of terrain. During the early eighteenth century, families in this part of France were deeply connected to the local maritime culture and the agricultural traditions of the Breton countryside. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and local governance of their parishes. This period was a time of significant transition for many families in Bretagne, as they navigated the complexities of life under the French monarchy while maintaining the unique cultural identity that defined their home province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de cou
derived from the French preposition de meaning of and cou meaning neck
This name
Decoua topographic name for someone living near a mountain pass or neck of land
also spelled
Decou
Couz
Dekoo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction seigneuriale)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
