A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ancel family of France.
Reg. 6835 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois lions d'arg.; au chef du premier, ch. de trois pals flamboyants du sec.”
BerryBerry, c. 1663
Where the Ancel Arms Were Recorded
Berry
Map of France showing where the Ancel arms are recorded
The Ancel arms were recorded in Berry, c. 1663.
Berry was central French farming country, quiet and long-settled. Its estates were modest and stayed in the same hands for centuries, and steady landholding of that kind is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Ancel 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 Berry.
Origin & History of the Ancel Family in France
The family name Ancel finds its historical roots in the central French province of Berry, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. The name is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Anso, which means god or divine being. Over many centuries, this name evolved through various regional dialects before settling into the form used today. Families bearing this name in the Berry region were typically part of the rural society that defined the landscape of central France during the seventeenth century. They were often connected to the local agricultural economy and the social structures of the old French provinces. By maintaining a presence in this specific area, the early members of the Ancel family contributed to the long-standing cultural traditions and community life of the Berry region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Angelus
Latin term meaning messenger or divine herald.
This name
AncelDerived from a medieval personal name representing a messenger of God.
also spelled
Ansell
Ansel
Related arms
Christinrecorded with Ancel, same area
du Thonrecorded with Ancel, same area
Guimpsrecorded with Ancel, same area
Martinrecorded with Ancel, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
