Map of France showing where the Leveque arms are recorded
The Leveque arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 Leveque 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Leveque Family in France
The surname Leveque is a classic example of a name derived from a social or professional title, as it originates from the Old French word *l'évêque*, meaning the bishop. In medieval times, such names were often given as nicknames to people who worked in a bishop’s household, played the role of a bishop in local theatrical performances, or perhaps displayed a serious and dignified personality. By the time records confirm the family presence in the Picardie region of northern France in 1663, the name had long been established as a common identifier across the French countryside. Families living in Picardie during this era were typically tied to the land, working as farmers or skilled tradespeople in a region known for its strategic importance and agricultural productivity. As the name spread through generations, it became a permanent fixture of the local community, reflecting the deep roots that families like the Leveques established in the northern provinces of France long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
episcopus
A high-ranking religious official or overseer in the church.
This name
LevequeDerived from the Old French term for a bishop, likely denoting a servant or associate of a bishop.
also spelled
Fontaine
Leveque
Fonten Levek
Fontain Levek
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
