A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Forcey family of France.
Reg. 8370 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à trois rocs d'échiquier d'or, rangés en fasce, la partie inférieure allongée et grossie; au chef d'arg., ch. d'un lion iss. de gu.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Forcey Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Forcey arms are recorded
The Forcey 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 Forcey 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 Forcey Family in France
The family name Forcey traces its roots to the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often navigated complex shifts in borders and local governance, which likely influenced the movement and development of the name. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older regional surnames that evolved as families moved through different villages and parishes. By settling in this part of eastern France, the early Forcey family became part of a resilient community that maintained its identity despite the frequent military conflicts and social changes that defined the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fortis
Latin term meaning strong, powerful, or steadfast.
This name
ForceyA habitational name derived from a location associated with strength or a strong person.
also spelled
Forsay
Forcei
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine, 1663
Bastien, Michel, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1998
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine au XVIIe siècle, 1984
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
lionCourage, strength and royalty
