Map of France showing where the Russey arms are recorded
The Russey arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Russey 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Russey Family in France
The family name Russey finds its early roots in the historic region of Normandy, France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by 1663. During this period, Normandy was a place of significant social and agricultural activity, and families living there were often tied to the land or local trade guilds. The name itself likely evolved from a geographical reference or a descriptive nickname common to the French language of the seventeenth century. As the family grew, their presence in the region became part of the broader history of northern France, reflecting the migration patterns and community structures of the time. By settling in Normandy, the early Russey family participated in the distinct cultural traditions of a region known for its strong ties to both the French mainland and the nearby English Channel.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rousse
Derived from the Old French word for red or reddish-haired.
This name
RusseyA topographic or descriptive surname referring to an individual with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Russi
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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