A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dusseau family of France.
Reg. 5400 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a fesse sa. flory and counterflory gu”
Francec. 1663
Where the Dusseau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dusseau arms are recorded
The Dusseau 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 Dusseau 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 Dusseau Family in France
The family name Dusseau finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name is generally classified as a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to identify people based on the specific features of the land where they lived. In the French language, the prefix "du" indicates "of the," while "seau" is often linked to regional dialects referring to a bucket, a basin, or a small water source. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely resided near a distinct natural spring, a well, or a small valley that served as a local landmark for their community. By the mid-17th century, these families were firmly established within the social fabric of the region, living as part of the agrarian society that defined rural life in western France during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
du seau
from the bucket or water vessel
This name
Dusseaua topographic name for someone living near a well or water source
also spelled
Dusseau
Dussaux
Dussault
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
