A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dahl family of Denmark.
Reg. 5898 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à deux tertres accostés de sin., sommés chacun d'un arbre du même. C.: un arbre de sin., entre un vol d'or. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Dahl Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Dahl arms are recorded
The Dahl 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 Dahl 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 Dahl Family in Denmark
The surname Dahl is a classic topographical name that originated in Scandinavia, specifically derived from the Old Norse word *dalr*, which means valley. Families who adopted this name often lived near a prominent valley or a low-lying area, using the landscape as a way to identify their home and community. By the time records place your ancestors in Sjælland in 1722, the name had already become a well-established way to distinguish individuals in rural Danish society. During this period, the use of surnames was becoming more structured as local officials began keeping more detailed parish registers to track births, marriages, and deaths. Because the name is rooted in the physical geography of the region, it reflects a deep connection to the land that your ancestors farmed and inhabited for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dalr
Old Norse word referring to a valley or low-lying area.
This name
DahlA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Dalle
Dahlle
Dal
Related arms
Dalvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kruken, Kristoffer and Stemshaug, Ola, Norsk personnamnleksikon, 1995
Danish National Archives (Rigsarkivet), Kirkebøger fra Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Zealand)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
