Map of France showing where the Luce arms are recorded
The Luce arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Luce 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Luce Family in France
The surname Luce has deep roots in the French region of Guyenne, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. The name itself is derived from the Latin word *lux*, meaning light, and it was often used as a given name before evolving into a hereditary surname. During the seventeenth century, families in Guyenne were deeply connected to the agricultural and social rhythms of the Garonne River valley. As the name spread through the region, those who carried it were often involved in the local trade and land management that defined life in southwestern France. By the time the family appears in the official records of the mid-1600s, they were already part of a long tradition of French provincial life that linked their identity to both the landscape and the linguistic heritage of the area.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a crescent ar”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Luce arms are recorded
The Luce arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Luce arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Luce Family in England
The surname Luce has roots that stretch back into the medieval period of England, where it likely evolved as a variation of the name Lucas or as a descriptive term related to the pike fish. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that individuals bearing this name were living in this northern hub, which was a center of commerce and religious life at the time. During this era, families like the Luces were often involved in the local trade guilds or the agricultural life surrounding the city walls. Their presence in York suggests that they were part of the growing middle class that helped shape the social fabric of northern England before many families began to look toward the colonies in the Americas for new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lux
Latin word meaning light or illumination.
This name
LuceDerived from the Latin term for light, often bestowed upon children born at dawn.
also spelled
Lucet
Lucée
Lucay
Lusay
Lucie
Related arms
Beraudsimilar arms
Gairal de Serezinsimilar arms
Veldesimilar arms
Lucievariant spelling
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 Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
