Map of France showing where the Rossouw arms are recorded
The Rossouw arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Rossouw 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 France.
Origin & History of the Rossouw Family in France
The family name Rossouw traces its roots back to the Brittany region of France, where early members were documented in 1725. The name is widely considered to be a variation of the French surname Rousseau, which originally functioned as a nickname. In the medieval period, this term was used to describe someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. As the family lived in the coastal areas of Brittany, they were part of a distinct cultural landscape known for its strong traditions and maritime history. Over time, the spelling evolved into its current form as members of the family moved across borders and settled in new regions. This transition reflects the common way names changed as they were recorded by different clerks and officials in various languages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rousseau
Derived from the Old French word for red or reddish.
This name
RossouwA nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Rozzo
Rossow
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
C.C. de Villiers, Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien, 1893
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
National Archives of South Africa, Cape Town Archives Repository (KAB), Church Registers of the Dutch Reformed Church
Archives Départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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