Map of France showing where the Foust arms are recorded
The Foust arms were recorded in Strasbourg, 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 France when the Foust 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 Foust Family in France
The family name Foust traces its roots to the Alsace region of France, where the name was historically linked to the Germanic linguistic influence common in Strasbourg during the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established residents within this strategic border city. At that time, Strasbourg served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture between the French kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families like the Fousts often worked as skilled laborers or merchants who helped maintain the city's economic stability during a period of significant political transition. Because the region frequently shifted between different governing powers, the family name reflects a blend of local traditions and the broader European movements of the era. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were integrated into the urban life of Strasbourg long before the region became permanently incorporated into France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. à deux crampons d'arg., passés en saut. C.: un avant-bras, posé en pal, paré de gu., la main de carn. empoignant un crampon d'arg. en fasce.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Foust arms are recorded
The Foust arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Foust arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Foust Family in Germany
The family name Foust is a variation of the German surname Faust, which originally functioned as a descriptive nickname. In Middle High German, the word *fust* or *faust* meant fist, and it was likely used to describe a person who was physically strong or perhaps someone who had a sturdy, forceful nature. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had been established for generations within the Germanic regions. Families with this name were often part of the rural working class, living in small villages where they contributed to the local agricultural economy. As the eighteenth century progressed, many individuals bearing this name participated in the broader social shifts of the Holy Roman Empire, eventually seeking new opportunities as they moved across regional borders and prepared for migration.
Foust Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Faustus
Latin term meaning lucky, auspicious, or favored by fortune.
This name
FoustA surname derived from a nickname for a fortunate or lucky individual.
also spelled
Fauste
Foust
Faustt
Fowst
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de la Ville et de l'Eurométropole de Strasbourg, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Livet, Georges, L'intendance d'Alsace sous Louis XIV, 1648-1715, 1956
Rapp, Francis, Histoire de Strasbourg des origines à nos jours, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
