A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kuske family of France.
Reg. 9368 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'azur à deux pals de sa.; à la bande de gu., br. sur le tout et ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
FranceStrasbourg, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Kuske arms are recorded
The Kuske 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 Kuske 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 Kuske Family in France
The family name Kuske has deep roots in the historical region of Alsace, with documented evidence placing family members in the city of Strasbourg as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Strasbourg was a vibrant center of trade and culture that served as a bridge between French and German influences. Families living in this area often navigated a complex landscape of shifting borders and religious changes following the Thirty Years' War. The name itself likely originated as a diminutive form or a regional variation of names common in the Germanic linguistic sphere. As residents of a major urban center like Strasbourg, early members of the Kuske family were likely involved in the city's robust guild system, which organized the skilled craftsmen and merchants who defined the local economy of the time. This urban environment allowed families to establish stable lives while participating in the rich social and civic traditions of the Rhine valley.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kus
A Slavic term referring to a small piece or a scrap.
This name
KuskeA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived on or worked a small plot of land.
also spelled
Kuss
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 de Strasbourg (1663)
Himly, François-Jacques, Chronologie de la Basse-Alsace, 1972
Livet, Georges, Histoire de Strasbourg des origines à nos jours, 1980
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