A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duby family of France.
Reg. 1320 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois buis de sin., terrassés du même; au chef de gu., ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Duby Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Duby arms are recorded
The Duby arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Duby 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Duby Family in France
The family name Duby traces its roots to the historical province of Forez in east-central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this region, which was known for its rugged mountains and fertile river valleys. The name itself is likely a locative surname, meaning it was originally used to identify people who lived near a specific landmark or a particular type of terrain. In the local dialect of the time, the prefix "du" combined with a descriptive noun to indicate that a person came from a place characterized by a certain feature, such as a grove or a specific wooded area. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the Forez region during the seventeenth century. Their presence in official documents from this era suggests they were settled, land-holding inhabitants who played a role in the development of their local parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dubois
Derived from the French phrase meaning of the wood or forest.
This name
DubyA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Dubie
Dubee
Related arms
Dübivariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Forest, Émile. Dictionnaire topographique du département de la Loire. 1864
Archives départementales de la Loire. État civil et registres paroissiaux de la province de Forez. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
