A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dukas family of France.
Reg. 7484 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
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 un chêne arr. d'or de quatre branches, passées en saut.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Dukas Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Dukas arms are recorded
The Dukas arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Dukas 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Dukas Family in France
The family name Dukas has deep roots that connect to the complex social landscape of seventeenth-century France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the province of Guyenne by 1663. During this era, Guyenne was a region defined by its agricultural wealth and its strategic importance to the French monarchy. Families living in this area often played vital roles in local administration or the management of land. While the name Dukas may have evolved from various linguistic influences in the region, its presence in Guyenne suggests that the family was part of the provincial society that helped shape the local economy and culture during the reign of King Louis XIV. By settling in this part of southwestern France, the early members of the family became part of a long tradition of regional history that spanned generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dux
Latin term meaning a leader, commander, or military guide.
This name
DukasA title-based surname denoting a person of high rank, a leader, or a duke.
also spelled
Ducas
Dukas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'espace rural en Guyenne aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, 1942
Papy, Michel, La vie quotidienne en Guyenne au XVIIe siècle, 1985
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
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
