Map of France showing where the Rancourt arms are recorded
The Rancourt arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of 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 Rancourt 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Rancourt Family in France
The family name Rancourt finds its roots in the historic province of Orléanais, France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, which served as a central hub for French culture and trade. The name itself is topographical, likely derived from the Old French term "ranc," which referred to a rocky or rugged terrain. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who lived near distinctive geological features. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family became part of the significant wave of migration to New France. Their move across the Atlantic helped preserve the name in North American history, where it remains a testament to their origins in the heart of the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ranc
Derived from the Old French word for a rank or row.
This name
RancourtRefers to someone who lived near a specific row of trees or a boundary line.
also spelled
Rancourt
Mimerand
Rancourt-Mimerand
Rancour
Rancoor de Mimeran
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec. 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours. 1871
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ramLeadership and authority
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ramLeadership and authority
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
