A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lau family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Losangé d'or et d'azur. D.: LOUS LAU SONT À LAS GENS SO QUÉ L'OR ES À L'ARGENT (patois gascon, signifiant Lau est supérieur aux gens, comme l'or l'est à l'argent.)”
The Lau 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.
Reigning in France when the Lau 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 Lau has deep roots in the coastal region of Brittany, France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. In the Breton language, the name is often associated with the word for a clearing or a specific type of local terrain, suggesting that the family’s ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who settled in the rural landscape. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were closely tied to the land and the local parish system, which served as the center of both community life and record keeping. Because Brittany maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of France, the Lau family name reflects the unique linguistic and social traditions of this northwestern province. Over time, the family became part of the steady rhythm of Breton life, contributing to the agricultural and social history of their home villages through generations of work and community involvement.
Latin term meaning praise, glory, or fame.
