A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arnesen family of Denmark.
Reg. 4630 · Danish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 à quatre los. d'arg., appointées et rangées en pal.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Arnesen Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Arnesen arms are recorded
The Arnesen arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Arnesen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Arnesen Family in Denmark
The surname Arnesen is a classic example of a Scandinavian patronymic, which means it was originally formed by adding the suffix "sen" to the father's given name, Arne. In the early 18th century, families in Denmark often used these names to identify their lineage rather than using a permanent family name that stayed the same across generations. By 1722, records confirm that individuals bearing this name were established on the island of Sjælland. During this period, life on the island was defined by agricultural work and the strict social structures of the Danish monarchy. Families like the Arnesens were typically part of the rural population, and their history is deeply connected to the local parish communities where births, marriages, and deaths were carefully recorded by the church. Over time, as naming customs in Denmark became more formalized, the name transitioned from a simple description of parentage into a stable family name passed down to descendants.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arne
Old Norse name derived from the word for eagle.
This name
ArnesenA patronymic surname meaning son of Arne.
also spelled
Arneson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dansk Historisk Fællesråd, Navneskik i Danmark, 1998
Kulturministeriet, Danskernes Navne, 2005
Rigsarkivet, Kirkebøger fra Sjællands Stift
Rigsarkivet, Folketællinger og lægdsruller
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lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
