A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mus family of France.
Reg. 5273 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
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)
“De sa. au lion d'arg., arm, lamp. et cour. à l'antique de gu., au chev. de gu., br. sur le tout.”
LimousinLimousin, c. 1663
Where the Mus Arms Were Recorded
Limousin
Map of France showing where the Mus arms are recorded
The Mus arms were recorded in Limousin, c. 1663.
Limousin was upland farming country in central France, poor in money but full of old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when arms were recorded.
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 Mus 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 Limousin.
Origin & History of the Mus Family in France
The family name Mus has deep roots in the Limousin region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During the seventeenth century, the name likely emerged from local linguistic traditions, as the term "mus" was often used in regional dialects to describe a small animal or a person with specific physical traits. Families in this part of rural France were typically tied to the land, working as farmers or skilled artisans who contributed to the local economy of the Limousin plateau. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in parish registers, which tracked the births, marriages, and deaths of these early ancestors. By remaining in the same region for generations, the Mus family helped shape the social fabric of their local communities long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mus
Latin term meaning mouse or a small rodent.
This name
MusA topographic name for someone living near a mouse-infested area or a nickname for a timid person.
also spelled
Mous
Mus
Moose
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Haute-Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boucherie, Anatole, Le dialecte limousin, 1864
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
