Map of France showing where the Draut arms are recorded
The Draut arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1488.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles VIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VIII of France
1483–1498
Reigning in France when the Draut 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Draut Family in France
The family name Draut has deep roots in the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were officially documented as early as 1488. During the late fifteenth century, Lorraine served as a vital crossroads between the French and German cultural spheres, which likely influenced the evolution of the name’s spelling and pronunciation. The name itself is thought to be derived from old Germanic linguistic traditions, potentially linked to terms describing a person’s character or their specific role within a medieval village community. Families in this area during the Renaissance often lived as skilled artisans or landholders who maintained close ties to the local parish. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the borderlands, navigating the complex political shifts that defined the history of the Lorraine duchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drogo
Derived from the Germanic element meaning to carry or bear.
This name
DrautA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Drogo, meaning carrier or bearer.
also spelled
Duratt
Durad
Duraht
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Bastien, Michel, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1998
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
