Map of France showing where the Derousse arms are recorded
The Derousse arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Derousse 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 Derousse Family in France
The surname Derousse finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, or Bretagne, where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the French word "roux" refers to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. In the seventeenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the land and local parish life. Records from this era show that the Derousse family lived during a time of significant social change in western France, as the province maintained its unique cultural identity while becoming more integrated into the broader French kingdom. By settling in this coastal region, early members of the family were part of a resilient community that relied on maritime trade and traditional agriculture to thrive. Their presence in the historical records of the 1660s provides a clear link to the rural society of early modern France, where surnames were becoming permanent markers of family lineage and identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Roux
Derived from the Latin word russus meaning red or reddish.
This name
DerousseA descriptive surname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Deroussault
de Rooso
Derousso
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Morvan, Françoise, La douce Bretagne, 2008
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
