A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fontanes family of France.
Reg. 8890 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pine coneLife and fertility
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à une fontaine d'arg. posée sur une terrasse du même; au chef d'or, ch. de trois pommes de pin d'azur.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Fontanes Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Fontanes arms are recorded
The Fontanes arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Fontanes 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Fontanes Family in France
The surname Fontanes is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from the geographical features of the landscape where the family resided. The name comes from the Occitan and French word for fountains or springs, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a prominent water source or a village known for its natural wells. By 1663, the family was firmly established in the Languedoc region of southern France. During this period, families in Languedoc were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the social structures of their specific parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the regional history of a province known for its unique language, cultural traditions, and long-standing ties to the Mediterranean world. The persistence of the name in this area reflects a deep-rooted history tied to the land and the specific geography of the southern French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fons
Latin term meaning a spring, fountain, or source of water.
This name
FontanesA topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a natural spring or fountain.
also spelled
Fontaness
Fontanaz
Fontanex
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pine coneLife and fertility
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pine coneLife and fertility
