A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dumaresq family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9234 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
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)
“De gu. à trois coquilles d'or. C.: un boeuf pass. au nat., la tète posée de front. S.: deux lévriers reg. au nat., coll. et bouclés de gu. D.: DUM VIVO SPERO.”
FranceJersey, c. 1725
Where the Dumaresq Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dumaresq arms are recorded
The Dumaresq arms were recorded in Jersey, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Dumaresq 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 France.
Origin & History of the Dumaresq Family in France
The Dumaresq family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Brittany region in northwestern France. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in this area, particularly by 1725. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old French phrase "du marais," which translates to "of the marsh." This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family lived near a wetland or a low-lying area of land. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local social structures of the French provinces, where they lived as landowners and members of the regional community. Their history reflects the broader patterns of French migration and settlement, where families often identified themselves by the specific geography of their ancestral homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Du Maresq
Derived from the Old French word for a marsh or swamp.
This name
DumaresqRefers to a person who lived near or worked on marshy land.
also spelled
Dumaresk
Dumarek
Dumaresc
Dumarescq
Related arms
Williamsrecorded with Dumaresq, same area
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
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
