A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fats family of France.
Reg. 7166 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 cinq points d'arg. équipollés à quatre d'azur; aux 2 et 3 de gu. plein. C.: deux têtes et cols de cygne d'arg., l'un br. sur l'autre. L.: d'arg. et d'azur. - Ou: Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. plein; aux 2 et 3 cinq points d'arg., équipollés à quatre de sa. Même cimier. L.: d'arg. et de gu.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Fats Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fats arms are recorded
The Fats 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 Fats 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 Fats Family in France
The family name Fats traces its early documented roots to the region of Bretagne in France during the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established within this coastal province, a time when the area was known for its distinct cultural identity and strong maritime traditions. Surnames during this period often evolved from nicknames, descriptions of physical traits, or references to a person's specific occupation or home village. In the context of the Breton linguistic landscape, the name likely emerged as a way to distinguish specific households within local parishes. As families moved through the rural landscape of Bretagne, these names became fixed identifiers that were passed down through generations, eventually solidifying the Fats name as a permanent part of the region's historical record.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fatus
Latin term meaning destined, fated, or ordained by the gods.
This name
FatsA surname historically used as a nickname for someone perceived as lucky or destined.
also spelled
Fats
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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