Map of France showing where the Rufo arms are recorded
The Rufo 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 Rufo 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 Rufo Family in France
The surname Rufo carries a history deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Western Europe. The name is derived from the Latin word *rufus*, which translates to red or reddish. In early medieval societies, this descriptor was commonly used as a nickname for individuals with red hair or a ruddy complexion. By the time the family was documented in the Bretagne region of France in 1663, the name had transitioned from a simple physical description into a formal hereditary surname. Families living in this coastal province during the seventeenth century often relied on agriculture or maritime trade, and the presence of the Rufo name in local parish records suggests they were integrated into the established social fabric of the rural community. Over generations, the name persisted as a way to identify specific family lineages as they moved through the changing landscapes of French history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rufus
A Latin term meaning red-haired or having a reddish complexion.
This name
RufoA surname derived from a nickname for someone with red hair.
also spelled
Ruffault Kerhuel
Ruffault
Rufo
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
Morbihan Departmental Archives. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
