A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dufur family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7330 · 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 Dufur Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Dufur arms are recorded
The Dufur 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 Dufur 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 Dufur Family in France
The surname Dufur traces its roots to the historic province of Lyonnais in east-central France. During the seventeenth century, the name functioned as a topographical identifier, likely describing ancestors who lived near a specific landmark or a prominent beech tree, as the root word refers to the beech tree in the local dialect. Records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the Lyonnais region by 1663. At this time, the area served as a vital crossroads for trade and agriculture between the Rhone River and the surrounding mountains. Families like the Dufurs were often deeply integrated into the local parish life, where they contributed to the social fabric of small rural communities. By maintaining strong ties to the land and their local parishes, these early generations helped preserve the family identity as they navigated the complex social changes of the French monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV.
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 Dufur Arms Were Recorded
Genève
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dufur arms are recorded
The Dufur 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 Dufur Family in Switzerland
The Dufur family name is deeply rooted in the history of Geneva, Switzerland, where records confirm their presence as early as 1745. During this era, Geneva was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, and families like the Dufurs were often part of the local merchant class or skilled artisan guilds. The name itself likely evolved from regional French dialects spoken in the borderlands near the Alps, often serving as a topographical descriptor for people who lived near a specific gate or a prominent natural feature. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-integrated into the social fabric of the city, participating in the civic life of the Republic of Geneva. As the family grew, they navigated the complex political shifts of the region, eventually branching out from their Swiss origins to establish themselves in other parts of Europe and eventually North America. Their early history reflects the broader story of Genevan families who balanced local traditions with the expanding opportunities of the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
du fur
Old French for of the kiln or oven
This name
DufurA topographic name for someone who lived near a communal baking oven or kiln.
also spelled
Dufoure
Dufourr
Dufur
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
