A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duro family of France.
Reg. 6617 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Losangé d'arg et de sa.; à la fasce de gu., br. sur le tout.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Duro Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Duro arms are recorded
The Duro arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Duro 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Duro Family in France
The family name Duro has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. In the French language, the name is often associated with the preposition "du" combined with the word "ro," which historically functioned as a shortened form or a regional variation related to the word for king. This suggests that the name may have originally served as a descriptive label for someone who lived on land belonging to a monarch or perhaps someone who worked for a royal estate. During the seventeenth century, families in Bretagne were often deeply tied to their local parishes, where their names were recorded in baptismal and marriage registers. These early ancestors likely lived as farmers or tradespeople, contributing to the distinct cultural identity of the Breton countryside while passing their name down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
du
A preposition meaning of or from indicating origin or location.
This name
DuroA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near or originated from a specific forest.
also spelled
du Roze
Roz
du Ro
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
