A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foshay family of France.
Reg. 5314 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux roses d'arg. et en p. d'une coquille d'or.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Foshay Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Foshay arms are recorded
The Foshay arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Foshay 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Foshay Family in France
The family name Foshay originates from the historical region of Bourgogne in eastern France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by 1663, living during a time when the region was a powerful center for wine production and trade. The name is likely a variation of the French word for a thicket or a wooded area, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors may have been farmers or landowners who lived near a distinct forest. As the family grew, they became part of the local social structure in the French countryside. Over time, the name evolved in spelling as family members moved to different regions and eventually crossed the Atlantic to North America, where the pronunciation adapted to new languages while keeping its deep French roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fossatum
A ditch, trench, or defensive embankment made of earth.
This name
FoshayRefers to someone who lived near a ditch, moat, or defensive fortification.
also spelled
Fauché
Fauchier
Foscher
Foshay
Fosher
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
