Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à un daim pass. de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'arg.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dein family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à un daim pass. de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'arg.”
The Dein arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1810.
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.
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.
The family name Dein has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this coastal area. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term or a localized nickname that eventually became a hereditary surname as populations grew. During the early 1800s, life for families in Bretagne was heavily influenced by the region’s unique Celtic heritage and its strong connection to the sea. As the family lived through this period of French history, they likely worked in agriculture or maritime trades that were common in the Breton countryside. Over time, the name was passed down through generations, serving as a permanent link to their ancestors who first settled in the rugged landscape of western France.
Latin term referring to a deity or divine being.
