A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hossfeld family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“d'or et de gu. C.: un buste de More, hab. aux armes de l'écu, tort. de gu.”
The Hossfeld arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Reigning in France when the Hossfeld 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 family name Hossfeld has deep roots that connect to the complex history of migration and regional identity in Europe. While the name is often associated with Germanic linguistic origins, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne by 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province that maintained its own cultural traditions and social structures. Families moving into this area often adapted to the local customs while preserving their ancestral identity. The presence of the Hossfeld name in such a specific coastal region suggests that early family members may have been involved in trade, maritime activities, or the skilled crafts that were essential to the economy of the time. By settling in this part of France, the family became part of the long history of movement that shaped the diverse communities of the region.
Germanic words for hare and field or open land.
