A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dania family of France.
Reg. 1309 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
duckResourcefulness on land and water
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: au 1 de sa. à un lévrier pass. d'or, coll. et bouclé du même, acc. en chef d'une étoile d'or surmontée de deux palmes d'arg., passées en saut.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une canette d'arg., nageant sur une eau de sin et acc. de trois étoiles d'or, rangées en chef; au 4 d'arg. à un orme terrassé de sin., le fût accoié d'un cep de vigne au nat.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dania Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dania arms are recorded
The Dania 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 Dania 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 Dania Family in France
The family name Dania traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and local traditions. Families living in this area were often deeply connected to the land and the maritime economy of the Atlantic coast. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the region, reflecting the way people identified themselves within their small rural parishes. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the 1700s, they helped establish the foundation of the family line that persisted through generations of Breton history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Daniel
Hebrew origin meaning God is my judge.
This name
DaniaA feminine variant derived from the biblical name signifying divine judgment.
also spelled
Danya
Danie
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Departmental Archives of Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Galllouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
duckResourcefulness on land and water
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
duckResourcefulness on land and water
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
