A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Courcelle family of France.
Reg. 2280 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu. S.: deux lions reg. au nat.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Courcelle Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Courcelle arms are recorded
The Courcelle arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Courcelle 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 France.
Origin & History of the Courcelle Family in France
The family name Courcelle originates from the French language and is rooted in the landscape of the countryside. The name is a diminutive form of the word court, which historically referred to a small enclosed area or a farmstead. By the time the family was documented in the region of Bretagne in 1725, the name likely served as a way to identify individuals based on where they lived or the type of land they cultivated. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of France were often tied closely to the local parish and the agricultural life of their village. As the family established their roots in Bretagne, they became part of a long tradition of rural life that defined the social structure of the province. Over generations, the name transitioned from a simple geographic descriptor into a permanent family identity that was passed down through the records of local churches and civil offices.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
curticula
A diminutive form of the Latin word curtis meaning small courtyard.
This name
CourcelleRefers to a person who lived near or worked at a small farmstead or enclosed courtyard.
also spelled
Courcelles
Courcelle
Courselles
Courcel
Julien de Kursel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
