A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreux family of France.
Reg. 1801 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux roses d'arg. et en p. d'un soleil du sec. S.: deux lions, au nat.”
Francec. 1685
Where the Dreux Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dreux arms are recorded
The Dreux arms were recorded in France, c. 1685.
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 Dreux 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 Dreux Family in France
The surname Dreux originates from a prominent town in northern France, and it was historically associated with a powerful line of medieval counts who played a significant role in the politics of the French monarchy. By the time the family established a documented presence in the region of Bretagne during the late seventeenth century, the name had already been carried across various social strata for generations. Families bearing this name often settled in rural areas where they worked as skilled artisans or landholders. Because the name was tied to a specific geographic location, it likely served as a way to identify individuals who had migrated from the town of Dreux to other parts of the kingdom. The presence of the family in Bretagne by 1685 suggests they were part of the steady movement of people seeking new opportunities in the western provinces during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drogo
Derived from the Old Germanic word for ghost or phantom.
This name
DreuxA locative surname originating from the town of Dreux, historically linked to the personal name Drogo.
also spelled
Dreus
Dreu
Droo
Drew
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1685
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
