A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Danvers family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2494 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même. C.: un dragon ailé d'or [Comp. d'Anvers de Culworth.]”
Francec. 1603
Where the Danvers Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Danvers arms are recorded
The Danvers arms were recorded in France, c. 1603.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Danvers 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 Danvers Family in France
The family name Danvers finds its roots in the historical landscape of France, where it originated as a locative surname indicating a person from the region of Anvers. While the name is often associated with later migration to England, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the province of Bretagne by 1603. During this period, the family lived within a society defined by local parish structures and regional land ownership. The presence of the name in Bretagne suggests that these early ancestors were likely involved in the agricultural or merchant activities common to that coastal area. As they navigated the social shifts of seventeenth-century France, the family maintained their identity through these regional ties before the name became more widely dispersed across borders.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“The chief line was D'Anvers, Earl of Danby. Visit. 1574). Ar. on a bend gu. three martlets vert legged or”
OxfordCothorp · Oxford, c. 1574
Where the Danvers Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Danvers arms are recorded
The Danvers arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor 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 England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in France when the Danvers arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Oxford.
Origin & History of the Danvers Family in England
The surname Danvers traces its roots back to the Norman Conquest of England, as the name is a locative term derived from the French town of Anvers, which is known today as Antwerp. Originally, the name was written as de Anvers, meaning "from Anvers," and it was brought to England by settlers who arrived with William the Conqueror. Over several centuries, the spelling evolved into the modern form of Danvers as the family integrated into English society. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Oxford, where records from 1574 confirm their residency and involvement in local affairs. This period marked a time when the family became deeply connected to the academic and social landscape of the region, helping to solidify their name within the historical fabric of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Anvers
A locative reference to the city of Antwerp in Belgium.
This name
DanversRefers to a person who originated from the city of Antwerp.
also spelled
Danver
Danvirs
Danverse
Danvores
Danvurs
Related arms
Draeck (de) - Anvers, Gandvariant spelling
Damversvariant spelling
Denversvariant spelling
Kellamrecorded with Danvers, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1603
Pottier, Jean, Les noms de famille en Bretagne, 1988
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
