A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dufault family of France.
Reg. 4402 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à deux faux d'or, passées en saut. S.: deux lions.”
RouergueRouergue, c. 1663
Where the Dufault Arms Were Recorded
Rouergue
Map of France showing where the Dufault arms are recorded
The Dufault arms were recorded in Rouergue, c. 1663.
Rouergue was high, stony country in southern France, with more castles than money. Its families were numerous and modest, 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 Dufault 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 Rouergue.
Origin & History of the Dufault Family in France
The family name Dufault originates from the historic province of Rouergue in southern France. During the mid-seventeenth century, the name was closely tied to the rugged landscape and rural traditions of this region. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within the local community. The name itself is descriptive in nature, likely evolving from a nickname or a reference to a specific geographic feature near where the family lived. As was common for families in this area during the 1600s, the Dufaults were deeply connected to the land and the social structures of their parish. Their presence in Rouergue marks the beginning of a long lineage that eventually saw members of the family move across the Atlantic to participate in the development of New France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Faut
Derived from the Old French word for fault or defect.
This name
DufaultA topographic name for someone living near a flaw or a defective piece of land.
also spelled
Dufault
Dufau
du Fo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Archives départementales de l'Aveyron, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Rouergue
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
