A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arnal family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5449 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'or au noyer arr. de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'arg. S.: deux lévriers reg. d'arg., coll. d'azur.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Arnal Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Arnal arms are recorded
The Arnal arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Arnal 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Arnal Family in France
The family name Arnal finds its deep historical roots in the Languedoc region of southern France, where it emerged as a distinct identifier long before the seventeenth century. The name is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Arnwald, which combines elements meaning eagle and power or ruler. By the time records confirm the presence of the Arnal family in Languedoc in 1663, the name had already been shaped by centuries of local linguistic evolution in the Occitan-speaking south. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the rural social structures of the region, frequently working as landholders or tradespeople within the complex feudal landscape of the French provinces. Because the name was tied to the cultural identity of the Languedoc area, it remained closely linked to the local traditions and the specific administrative history of the southern French territories throughout the early modern period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'arbre de sin., terrassé du même, senestré d'un ours assis de sa.; au 2 fascé-ondé d'arg. et d'azur. L'écu entouré d'une bord. d'azur, ch. de la légende: ASSUMPSIT ME DOMINUS DE AQUIS MULTIS, en lettres d'or.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Arnal Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Arnal arms are recorded
The Arnal arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in France when the Arnal arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Arnal Family in Spain
The surname Arnal traces its roots to the Germanic name Arnold, which arrived in the Iberian Peninsula through the influence of the Visigoths. Over several centuries, the name evolved from its original form into the distinct Spanish version used today. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the Arnal family were well-established in the region of Castile. At this time, the family was part of the social fabric of rural and provincial Spain, likely participating in the agricultural and local administrative life that defined the Castilian heartland. As the family moved through the generations, they became deeply integrated into the local communities, contributing to the regional history of central Spain long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arnwald
A Germanic compound meaning eagle and power or ruler.
This name
ArnalDerived from the Old French form of a Germanic name signifying eagle power.
also spelled
Arnald
Arnalle
Arnalt
Arna
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
Archives départementales de l'Hérault. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
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
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
