A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foucaud family of France.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au lion de gu.”
The Foucaud arms were recorded in Perigord, c. 1663.
Perigord was wooded upland country in south-western France, thick with small castles. Its gentry were numerous and mostly poor, and even a modest holding justified a shield of one's 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.
Reigning in France when the Foucaud arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Foucaud originates from the ancient Germanic personal name Fulco, which carries the meaning of a tribe or a people. Over many centuries, this name evolved through various linguistic shifts in France to become the family name recognized today. By the year 1663, historical records confirm that members of the Foucaud family were well-established in the Périgord region. This area, located in southwestern France, was known for its rugged landscape and deep agricultural roots. Families living there during the seventeenth century often held roles as local landowners or skilled tradespeople who contributed to the stability of the rural economy. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social fabric of the province, maintaining their presence in the region for generations.
Derived from Germanic elements meaning people and rule or power.
