Map of France showing where the Vigue arms are recorded
The Vigue 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 Vigue 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 Vigue Family in France
The family name Vigue has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. The name is likely derived from the Old French word viguier, which referred to a local official or a magistrate appointed to uphold the law in a specific district. During the eighteenth century, families with this name often lived in rural communities where they worked as skilled tradespeople or farmers. Because Brittany maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity during this period, the Vigue family would have been part of a close-knit society that valued local traditions and regional autonomy. Over time, the name spread from these coastal villages into broader areas of France as family members sought new opportunities in trade and agriculture.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
vicus
Latin term for a village, neighborhood, or small settlement.
This name
VigueRefers to someone who lived in or originated from a village or rural settlement.
also spelled
Voguee
Voguy
Vogay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Morbihan, 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
