A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foucault family of France.
Reg. 2427 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la croix ancrée de sa., soutenue de deux lions affr. du même, arm. et lamp. de gu.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Foucault Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Foucault arms are recorded
The Foucault 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 Foucault 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 Foucault Family in France
The surname Foucault originates from the ancient Germanic name Fulco, which carries the meaning of a leader or protector of the people. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Lorraine region of France. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the family were settled in this area, which was a crossroads for European culture and political change at the time. The name evolved through various regional dialects before settling into its modern spelling. Families bearing this name were often involved in local administration and agricultural management within the duchy. This allowed them to integrate into the social fabric of the borderlands during a period of significant territorial transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fulco
Derived from the Germanic element folk meaning people or tribe.
This name
FoucaultA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Fulco or Folc.
also spelled
Foucauld
Foucaut
Foko
Related arms
Ballifsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
