Map of France showing where the Roque arms are recorded
The Roque arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Roque 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Roque Family in France
The family name Roque traces its roots to the rugged landscapes of France, with documented evidence placing early members in the region of Bretagne by 1663. The name itself is derived from the Old Occitan and French word for rock, which suggests that the family likely lived near a prominent stone formation or a fortified cliffside. During the seventeenth century, families in Bretagne often identified themselves by their connection to the local geography, as the landscape played a vital role in daily life and agriculture. As these individuals moved through the rural provinces, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage and their ties to the land. This history reflects a time when surnames were still evolving, shifting from simple descriptions of a person’s home to formal family titles that would be passed down through many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rocca
A Latin term referring to a crag, cliff, or rocky fortress.
This name
RoqueA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or castle.
also spelled
Roqueh
Roquee
Roqu
Rok
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
Morvan, Françoise, Les Bretons, 2005
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
