Map of France showing where the Dennison arms are recorded
The Dennison arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Dennison 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Dennison Family in France
The family name Dennison traces its roots back to the medieval period, functioning as a patronymic surname that translates to "son of Denis." The name Denis itself comes from the Greek name Dionysius, which was popularized throughout Europe by the veneration of Saint Denis, the patron saint of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Île-de-France region, a historical province centered around Paris. During this era, families with this name were often associated with the social and economic shifts occurring in the French heartland. As the family moved across borders and generations, the spelling evolved to suit local languages, eventually solidifying into the form commonly recognized today. The presence of the family in Île-de-France suggests they were part of the vibrant cultural landscape of seventeenth-century France before many branches of the family expanded into other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Denis
Derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and fertility.
This name
DennisonA patronymic surname meaning son of Denis or follower of the god Dionysius.
also spelled
Dennison
Denyson
Deneson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series Y
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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
