A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doux family of France.
Reg. 5681 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Palé contre-palé d'or et de gu., de six pièces.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Doux Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Doux arms are recorded
The Doux arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 Doux 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Doux Family in France
The surname Doux originates from the historical region of Franche-Comté, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. In the French language, the word "doux" translates to sweet, gentle, or soft, and it likely began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor known for a mild temperament or a kind personality. During the seventeenth century, this region was a crossroads of cultural and linguistic exchange, often shifting between the influence of the French Crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area during that period were typically deeply rooted in local agriculture or trade, and they often maintained strong ties to their parish communities. As the family grew, members of the Doux line became part of the social fabric of the Jura mountains and surrounding valleys, contributing to the local economy and the distinct traditions of the Franche-Comté province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dulcis
Latin adjective meaning sweet, pleasant, or agreeable.
This name
DouxA descriptive nickname for a person with a gentle or sweet temperament.
also spelled
Douxe
Doo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavoux, François, Histoire de la Franche-Comté, 1950
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales du Doubs, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
