A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Denault family of Belgium.
Reg. 3558 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. au chev. d'arg., acc. en chef de deux lions affr. d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'or au chev. de gu., acc. de trois bourses de sin. C.: un lion iss. d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.”
HainautHainaut, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the Denault arms are recorded
The Denault arms were recorded in Hainaut, c. 1737.
Hainaut sat on the border between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a working thing.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Denault arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hainaut.
Origin & History of the Denault Family in Belgium
The family name Denault finds its historical roots in the region of Hainaut, which is situated along the border of modern-day France and Belgium. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name itself is likely a locative surname, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from a specific place or lived near a notable landmark. In the local dialect of the time, the prefix "de" indicated origin, while the "nault" portion of the name is thought to be a variation of the word "nulle" or "nulle-terre," which referred to low-lying or marshy land. Families living in these areas were often farmers or laborers who worked the damp soil near the river valleys. As these individuals moved from their ancestral villages to larger towns, they carried the name with them to distinguish their heritage from others in the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Hénault
Derived from the Germanic name Haginwald meaning enclosure ruler.
This name
DenaultA locative surname indicating origin from the Hainaut region of Belgium.
also spelled
Haynault
Haynaul
de Hayno
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
Archives de l'État à Mons, Registres paroissiaux de la province de Hainaut, 1737
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
