A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the le Duff family of France.
Reg. 9445 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une maison de sin.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the le Duff Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the le Duff arms are recorded
The le Duff arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the le Duff 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the le Duff Family in France
The surname Le Duff is deeply rooted in the history of the Brittany region of France. The name is derived from the Breton word du, which translates to black or dark. In the context of early naming conventions, this likely served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who had dark hair or a dark complexion. By 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within the local communities of Bretagne. During this period, the Le Duff family lived as part of a distinct cultural landscape where the Breton language and traditions remained strong. Because the name is tied to physical characteristics, it reflects a time when surnames were often created based on the unique traits of individuals within small, close-knit rural villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
duff
A Breton word meaning dark or black.
This name
le DuffRefers to a person with a dark complexion or dark hair.
also spelled
Duff
Duffe
Duf
Dufff
le Duf
Related arms
Duffvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Deshayes, Albert. Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons. 1995
Tanguy, Bernard. Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère. 1990
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
