Map of France showing where the Viau arms are recorded
The Viau 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 Viau 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 Viau Family in France
The surname Viau finds its roots in the historic region of Brittany, France, where the family was well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is considered a variation of the ancient personal name Vitalis, which translates to life or vital. During the 1600s, families in this coastal area were often deeply connected to the land and the local parish communities. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Viau family were actively living and working in Brittany, participating in the social and economic life of the province. As the French population began to expand across the Atlantic, some members of the Viau family eventually left their ancestral home to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America. This migration helped preserve the name and its regional heritage as it spread from the rural villages of France to the growing settlements of the New World.
Viau Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Vivus
Latin term meaning alive, living, or full of life.
This name
ViauA habitational name derived from Old French indicating someone living near a specific location.
also spelled
Vio du Pui Marchan
Viau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Archives nationales de France, Fonds des notaires de Bretagne, 17th century records
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
