Map of France showing where the Eu arms are recorded
The Eu arms were recorded in France, 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 Eu 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 Eu Family in France
The family name Eu is deeply rooted in the history of the Brittany region of France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this coastal territory. The name itself is thought to be locative, meaning it likely originated from individuals who lived near or traveled from the town of Eu in the Normandy region before settling further west. During the eighteenth century, families in Brittany often lived in small rural parishes where they worked as farmers or artisans. Because the name is short and distinct, it suggests that the family maintained a consistent identity as they integrated into the local community. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the social fabric of their parishes through their daily labor and their participation in local church life.
Eu Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Augum
A Latin term referring to a meadow or a watery place.
This name
EuA locative surname originating from the town of Eu in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Eue
U
Eus
E
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Registres paroissiaux et d’état civil)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
