A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foucher family of France.
Reg. 4352 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. au lion d'arg., arm., lamp. et cour. d'or.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Foucher Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Foucher arms are recorded
The Foucher arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Foucher 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Foucher Family in France
The surname Foucher originates from the ancient French word *foucher*, which is linked to the practice of scything or mowing fields. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely agricultural workers or landowners who managed hay and grain harvests in the countryside. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family established a firm presence in the Poitou region of western France. Records confirm that members of the Foucher family were living in this area by 1663, a time when the region was defined by its deep ties to farming and local trade. As the family grew, they became part of the rural social structure that defined life in Poitou, contributing to the development of the local community through their labor and presence on the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fulcherius
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning people and army.
This name
FoucherDerived from a personal name signifying a soldier or protector of the people.
also spelled
Fouchier
Fouchere
Fouchar
Foshay
Related arms
Fouchiervariant spelling
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
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
