A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fulk family of France.
Reg. 4568 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
columnFortitude and constancy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à une colonne coupée sommée d'un petit faucon, ayant les ailes éployées, le tout d'arg.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Fulk Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fulk arms are recorded
The Fulk arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Fulk 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 Fulk Family in France
The surname Fulk traces its roots back to the Germanic name Fulco, which carries the meaning of a leader or guardian of the people. By the early eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. During this period, families in Bretagne often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or artisans. Life in this coastal province was shaped by local traditions and a strong sense of regional identity that remained distinct from the rest of France. As the family grew, they likely participated in the agricultural cycles and trade networks that defined the economy of the Breton countryside. These early ancestors were part of a long history of migration and settlement that helped define the cultural landscape of the region long before modern record-keeping became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Folco
Derived from the Germanic element folk meaning people or tribe.
This name
FulkA surname of Germanic origin meaning people's guardian or protector of the tribe.
also spelled
Fulquee
Fulqu
Fulques
Fulk
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 d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Morvan, Françoise, Bretagne est une province, 2001
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
columnFortitude and constancy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
columnFortitude and constancy
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
