A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arnould family of France.
Reg. 4810 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à la bande d'azur, ch. de trois croix treflées d'arg.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1563
Where the Arnould Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Arnould arms are recorded
The Arnould arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1563.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Arnould 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Arnould Family in France
The family name Arnould is a French variation of the Germanic name Arnold, which combines the roots for eagle and power. This name was quite popular in the Middle Ages because it was associated with strength and noble character. By the year 1563, historical records confirm that members of the Arnould family were well established in the Lorraine region of northeastern France. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture, and families living there often played important roles in local administration and trade. The Arnoulds were part of the social fabric of this area, living through a time when the region shifted between the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France. Because the name was common among the local population, the family likely consisted of hardworking individuals who helped shape the rural and town life of the Lorraine countryside during the Renaissance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arnwald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning eagle and power or ruler.
This name
ArnouldA French surname signifying the strength and dominance associated with an eagle.
also spelled
Arnoul
Arnoult
Arnoo
Related arms
Arnoulvariant spelling
Arnoultvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B (Cours et juridictions), 1563
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
