A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duplessis family of France.
Reg. 2453 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de sa., acc. de trois étoiles de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Duplessis Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Duplessis arms are recorded
The Duplessis arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Duplessis 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 Duplessis Family in France
The surname Duplessis is a classic example of a topographic name, which was common in medieval France for identifying families by the landscape features near their homes. The name literally translates to "of the Plessis," referring to a person who lived near a *plessis*. This term described a type of enclosure or defensive barrier made from interwoven branches and stakes, which was often used to protect a garden, a small settlement, or a manor house. By the time members of the family were documented in the Bretagne region in 1663, the name had already been established for generations as a way to distinguish families living near these fortified or fenced enclosures. As the family moved and grew, the name traveled with them, serving as a permanent link to the rural architecture and defensive structures of their ancestral lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Plessis
A hedge or enclosure made of interwoven branches.
This name
DuplessisRefers to someone who lived near a fenced or hedged enclosure.
also spelled
Duplessiz
Duplessee
Duplessi
Related arms
Plessis (du) de la Padouyèrevariant spelling
Plessis (du) de la Rivièrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
