A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Deneal family of France.
Reg. 9780 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un écusson palé de sa. et de gu., en abîme.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1465
Where the Deneal Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Deneal arms are recorded
The Deneal arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1465.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XI of France
1461–1483
Reigning in France when the Deneal 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Deneal Family in France
The family name Deneal traces its roots back to the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were documented as early as 1465. During this period, Lorraine was a vibrant crossroads of European culture situated between the French and German spheres of influence. Families living in this area often found their names shaped by the local dialects and the shifting borders of the duchy. The name likely evolved from a combination of regional linguistic influences, reflecting the family’s integration into the social and agricultural life of the Lorraine countryside. As the family established itself in these lands, they participated in the local traditions and economic activities that defined the late Middle Ages. Their presence in official records from the mid-fifteenth century suggests they were part of the established community that helped maintain the stability of the region during a time of significant political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Daniel
Derived from the Hebrew phrase meaning God is my judge.
This name
DenealA French patronymic variation indicating descent from an ancestor named Daniel.
also spelled
Deneel
Denial
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions (Chambre des comptes de Lorraine)
Lepage, Henri, Les archives de Nancy, ou documents inédits relatifs à l'histoire de cette ville, 1865
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
