A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fontenot family of France.
Reg. 9498 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un héron d'arg., tenant en son bec une truite d'or.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Fontenot Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fontenot arms are recorded
The Fontenot arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fontenot 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Fontenot Family in France
The Fontenot family name finds its roots in the historical province of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name itself is derived from the French word fontaine, which refers to a natural spring or a fountain. During the seventeenth century, such names were often used to describe where a person lived or worked, suggesting that the earliest ancestors of the Fontenot line likely resided near a prominent water source. As was common for families in this region during that era, the Fontenots were part of a rural society deeply connected to the land and local parishes. Over time, the name evolved from these regional beginnings to become a distinct identifier for the family as they eventually moved beyond their original home in Bretagne.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fontaine
A natural spring or source of water.
This name
FontenotA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near a small spring.
also spelled
Fontenot
Fontenault
Fontenaux
Fonteno
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Bourgeon, Jean-Luc, Les Fontenot en Bretagne au XVIIe siècle, 1985
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
