A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dufour family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8068 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
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 la fasce d'or, acc. de trois têtes de coq du même.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Dufour Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Dufour arms are recorded
The Dufour arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Dufour 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Dufour Family in France
The surname Dufour is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on where they lived or worked. In the French language, the name translates literally to "of the oven" or "from the furnace." During the Middle Ages, this name was typically assigned to a person who operated a communal village oven or worked as a baker. Because bread was a central part of daily life in every French village, the profession was essential, and the name appeared independently in many different regions. By the time records confirm the family presence in the Lyonnais region in 1663, the name had already been established for generations as a marker of a family’s trade and their role within their local community. The family likely moved through the rural landscapes of central and eastern France, carrying this professional identity as they settled into the growing social structures of the seventeenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu.; à deux haches d'armes, passées en saut., de l'un en l'autre, acc. en p. d'une étoile d'or, br. sur le parti.”
SwitzerlandGenève, c. 1745
Where the Dufour Arms Were Recorded
Genève
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dufour arms are recorded
The Dufour arms were recorded in Genève, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Dufour Family in Switzerland
The surname Dufour is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on where they lived. In French, the name translates to "of the oven," suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a communal village bakery or worked as professional bakers. By the time the family was firmly established in Geneva in 1745, they had become deeply integrated into the social and professional fabric of the city. During this era, Geneva was a hub of trade and intellectual growth, and families like the Dufours often held positions as skilled craftsmen or merchants. As the family grew, they spread across the Swiss cantons, eventually becoming a prominent name associated with the development of Swiss cartography and military leadership. Their history reflects the broader story of Swiss families who moved from humble village origins to play significant roles in the civic life of their nation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
four
A kiln or oven used for baking or industrial heating.
This name
DufourAn occupational surname for someone who worked at or lived near a kiln.
also spelled
Dufoure
Dufourr
Dufur
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 du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Lyon, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
axeThe execution of military duty
