Map of France showing where the Vossen arms are recorded
The Vossen arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Vossen 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Vossen Family in France
The family name Vossen carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Western Europe. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch word for fox, which was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their cleverness or perhaps their reddish hair. While the name is frequently associated with regions in the Low Countries and Germany, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Dauphiné province of France by 1663. During this era, families often migrated across borders for trade or religious reasons, and the presence of the Vossen name in this mountainous southeastern region suggests a history of movement and adaptation. As these individuals settled into the local French communities, they maintained their distinct surname, which served as a lasting link to their ancestral origins while they integrated into the social and economic life of the Dauphiné.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vos
A Dutch and Low German word meaning fox.
This name
VossenA topographic or occupational surname referring to someone who lived near a fox den or possessed fox-like traits.
also spelled
Voysene
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cometA great event foretold, and swift renown
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cometA great event foretold, and swift renown
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
