A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Skau family of France.
Reg. 2140 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un goëland (oiseau) d'arg., le vol levé, sur une mer de sin. ondée d'arg.; au chef de gu., ch. d'un croiss. d'arg., entre deux étoiles d'or. S.: deux aigles. au nat. D.: DEO ET PATRIAE.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Skau arms are recorded
The Skau arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Skau 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Skau Family in France
The family name Skau carries a history that traces back to the vibrant and complex landscape of seventeenth-century France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the Languedoc region by 1663, a time when this southern area was a center for trade and religious transition. The name itself is thought to have roots in older Germanic or Nordic linguistic traditions, suggesting that the family may have migrated south during earlier periods of European movement. Settling in Languedoc placed the family within a region known for its distinct cultural identity and its role as a crossroads between the Mediterranean and the rest of France. Over the following generations, the family integrated into the local society, balancing their unique heritage with the customs of their adopted home. This early presence in Languedoc serves as a starting point for understanding how the family name persisted and evolved through centuries of regional change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Skage
Old Norse term referring to a promontory or a projecting piece of land.
This name
SkauA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent headland or cliff.
also spelled
Suauu
Suaue
Swo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Série E: État civil et registres paroissiaux
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Les Paysans de Languedoc, 1966
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
