A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fo family of France.
Reg. 2320 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un écusson d'azur en abîme, ch. d'un lion d'or et acc. de trois grappes de raisins de pourpre, pamprées de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un croiss. d'or entre deux annelets du même.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Fo Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Fo arms are recorded
The Fo arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
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 Fo 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 Fo Family in France
The family name Fo possesses a distinct history rooted in the vibrant social landscape of seventeenth-century France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established residents of Paris, a city that served as the bustling intellectual and political heart of the nation during the reign of King Louis XIV. During this era, families with short, concise surnames like Fo were often integrated into the city’s growing merchant classes or administrative circles. Living in Paris at this time meant navigating a rapidly modernizing society where the family would have witnessed the expansion of the Louvre and the rise of French classical culture. While the name is brief, it represents a lineage that was present during a transformative period of European history, contributing to the diverse tapestry of Parisian life long before the industrial changes of the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fagus
Latin term referring to the beech tree.
This name
FoA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent beech tree.
also spelled
Faux
Faud
Fauv
Fo
Faw
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris
Boudon, Françoise, Système de la ville de Paris, 1977
Roche, Daniel, Le Peuple de Paris, 1981
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