A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fontain family of France.
Reg. 1870 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Bandé d'azur et d'or; au chef du premier, ch. de trois boules du sec.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Fontain Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Fontain arms are recorded
The Fontain arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Fontain 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Fontain Family in France
The surname Fontain is a topographic name derived from the Old French word *fontaine*, which refers to a natural spring or a fountain. Families carrying this name often lived near these water sources, which were vital landmarks in medieval European villages. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Fontain family were well-established in the Lorraine region of France. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of culture and trade, situated between the French kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families in this area were often involved in agriculture or skilled crafts, and they frequently moved between local parishes as they sought new opportunities for land and work. The presence of the name in 17th-century Lorraine suggests that these ancestors were part of a stable, long-standing community that relied on the natural geography of the region to define their identity and their homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fons
Latin term referring to a spring, source, or fountain of water.
This name
FontainA topographic surname for someone who lived near a natural spring or fountain.
also spelled
Fontainnes
Fontains
Fontaynees
Fonten
Fontain
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
