A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fosse family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5397 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 trèfles d'arg. et en p. d'un lion du même.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Fosse Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Fosse arms are recorded
The Fosse arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Fosse arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Brabant.
Origin & History of the Fosse Family in Belgium
The family name Fosse is rooted in the landscape of the Low Countries, where it functioned as a topographical surname. In the local dialects of the region, the word refers to a ditch, a trench, or a defensive moat, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near such a landmark or worked in land drainage. By 1737, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within the Duchy of Brabant. During this period, Brabant was a center of agricultural and economic activity under the rule of the Austrian Habsburgs. Families living in this area were often tied to the fertile soil of the region, and the name likely served as a way to identify individuals based on their proximity to specific water features or earthworks. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the rural and town life that defined the Brabant province during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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)
“D'azur au lion naiss. d'or, adextré en chef de deux étoiles accostées du même.”
FranceCambr, c. 1663
Where the Fosse Arms Were Recorded
Cambr
Map of France showing where the Fosse arms are recorded
The Fosse arms were recorded in Cambr, c. 1663.
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 Belgium when the Fosse 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 France.
Origin & History of the Fosse Family in France
The surname Fosse is a topographic name that originated in France, derived from the Old French word *fosse*, meaning a ditch, trench, or moat. Families who carried this name typically lived near a significant defensive ditch or a natural depression in the landscape. By the mid-17th century, the name was well-established in the northern regions of France. Records confirm that members of the Fosse family were living in the commune of Cambrésis by 1663. During this period, families in rural France were often identified by their proximity to local landmarks, and the name served as a practical way to distinguish individuals within a growing community. As the family settled into this region, they became part of the local agricultural and social fabric that defined northern French life during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fossa
A Latin term referring to a ditch, trench, or pit.
This name
FosseA topographic name for someone who lived near a ditch or a defensive moat.
also spelled
Fos
Foss
Related arms
Bernon de St.-Mauricesimilar arms
Mathiésimilar arms
Petitsimilar arms
de Fosvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters (Dopen, Huwelijken, Begrafenissen)
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Brabant
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Leys, O., De familienamen in de geschiedenis van de Nederlandse taal, 1980
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
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
