A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Agneau family of France.
Reg. 7741 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en p. d'un agneau d'arg.”
ProvenceProvence, c. 1663
Where the Agneau Arms Were Recorded
Provence
Map of France showing where the Agneau arms are recorded
The Agneau arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Agneau 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 Provence.
Origin & History of the Agneau Family in France
The family name Agneau is deeply rooted in the linguistic and cultural landscape of southern France, specifically within the historic region of Provence. Derived from the French word for lamb, the name likely began as a descriptive nickname or a professional identifier for someone who worked as a shepherd or a wool merchant. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Agneau family were well-established residents of this sun-drenched territory. During this period, families in Provence often lived in tight-knit rural communities where their livelihoods were closely tied to the seasonal migration of livestock known as transhumance. The survival and growth of the family name in this region suggest that these early ancestors were deeply integrated into the local agricultural economy, contributing to the distinct social fabric of seventeenth-century French life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Agnus
Latin term referring to a young sheep or lamb.
This name
AgneauOccupational or descriptive name for a shepherd or a person with a gentle nature.
also spelled
Agneaux
Agneaus
Agneaw
Anyo
Agno
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Boyer, Marc, La vie rurale en Provence, 1972
Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Poupardin, René, Le royaume de Provence sous les Carolingiens, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
