A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fatz family of France.
Reg. 9541 · 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 Fatz Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fatz arms are recorded
The Fatz 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 Fatz 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 Fatz Family in France
The family name Fatz has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language traditions, which likely shaped the daily lives of the early Fatz family. Many families in this region were involved in agriculture or maritime trades, as the coastal geography of the area played a major role in the local economy. The name itself suggests a connection to regional naming patterns that were common in western France during this period. As the family grew, they became part of the long history of the Breton people, contributing to the cultural fabric of the province through their work and community involvement. While the exact origins of the surname remain a subject of study, its presence in early eighteenth-century parish registers highlights the family's long-standing connection to this historic part of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fatz
Derived from the Germanic personal name Fazzo or Fazo.
This name
FatzAn occupational or descriptive surname likely referring to a stout or thick-set individual.
also spelled
Fats
Related arms
Vatzsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de la série E, État civil
Ploix, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1978
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