Map of France showing where the Piedmont arms are recorded
The Piedmont arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Piedmont 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Piedmont Family in France
The family name Piedmont finds its roots in the historical region of the Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this mountainous area near the border of modern-day Italy. The name itself is a geographical descriptor derived from the French words for foot and mountain, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived at the base of the Alps. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often adopted surnames based on their specific location or their movement between neighboring territories. Because the Dauphiné served as a vital crossroads for trade and travel between France and the Italian states, the name Piedmont likely identified individuals who had migrated from the neighboring Piedmont region or who resided near the foothills of the mountain range. This naming tradition reflects the deep connection between the family and the rugged landscape that defined their home for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
pedem montis
Latin for foot of the mountain
This name
PiedmontRefers to someone who lived at the base of a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Piedmonts Didier
Piedmonts-Didier
Peedmon San Deedeeay
Piedmont
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil, 1663
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Pécout, Gilles, L'espace français: une histoire régionale, 2004
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
