A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fez family of France.
Reg. 0061 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu. à la croix ancrée, aj. en carré, de l'un en l'autre.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Fez Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Fez arms are recorded
The Fez arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Fez 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Fez Family in France
The family name Fez traces its historical roots to the Burgundy region of France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Burgundy was a prominent center for viticulture and trade, and families living in this area were often tied to the land or local administrative roles. The name itself likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a toponymic surname, which was a common practice in rural French communities to distinguish families based on their geographic origins or specific local landmarks. As the family established itself in the region, they became part of the social fabric of Burgundy, navigating the shifting political and economic landscapes of the French provinces. By maintaining a documented presence in this area, the early members of the Fez family contributed to the long-standing cultural history of the region, reflecting the typical patterns of settlement and family development found in pre-revolutionary France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fès
Derived from the Moroccan city name meaning axe or pickaxe.
This name
FezA locative surname originally denoting someone who originated from the city of Fez.
also spelled
Fezaye
Fez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques aspects de la démographie historique en Bourgogne, 1974
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
