A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Deniau family of France.
Reg. 0456 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'azur à un croiss. d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles d'or.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Deniau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Deniau arms are recorded
The Deniau arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Deniau 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 Deniau Family in France
The family name Deniau has deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name is considered a patronymic, which means it likely originated as a way to identify a person by their father’s given name. In the linguistic landscape of western France, the name is a variation of Daniel, reflecting the common practice of adapting biblical names into regional dialects. Families bearing this name were often part of the rural society that defined the Breton countryside during the seventeenth century. They lived through a period of significant social change as the province transitioned into a more integrated part of the French kingdom. By maintaining their presence in the region, the Deniau family became part of the long-standing cultural fabric of Brittany, contributing to the local agricultural and community life that persisted for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Daniel
Hebrew origin meaning God is my judge.
This name
DeniauA diminutive or regional variation derived from the biblical name Daniel.
also spelled
Deniaud
Deniault
Denio
Denyo
Related arms
du Pillesimilar arms
Pasquiersimilar arms
Pilesimilar arms
Denyauvariant spelling
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, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
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.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
