A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Derée family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8292 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au chev. d'azur.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Derée Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Derée arms are recorded
The Derée arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Derée 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Derée Family in France
The family name Derée finds its historical roots in the western region of France known as Poitou. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which was characterized by its rich agricultural lands and deep ties to the French crown. During the seventeenth century, families in Poitou often lived in tight-knit rural communities where surnames were frequently linked to local geography or specific family traits. As the name appears in regional documentation from this period, it suggests that the Derée family was part of the local social fabric during a time of significant transition in French history. Life in Poitou at this time was shaped by the influence of the Catholic Church and the administrative reach of the monarchy, which required families to maintain clear records of their births and marriages. These early ancestors likely worked the land or participated in the local trades that supported the economy of western France, helping to secure the name's place in the region for generations to come.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un chevreuil ramp. et reg. au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. C.: un chevreuil iss. au nat.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Derée Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Derée arms are recorded
The Derée arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Derée Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in France when the Derée arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Derée Family in Netherlands
The family name Derée carries a distinct history rooted in the northern regions of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in the province of Friesland. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes, including the introduction of the civil registry in 1811, which required families to formalize their surnames for official government documentation. Because Friesland has a unique linguistic and cultural heritage separate from the rest of the country, the presence of the name there suggests a long-standing connection to local agrarian or trade communities. As the family moved through the nineteenth century, they participated in the broader social shifts of the Dutch nation, transitioning from regional life into the evolving industrial and urban landscape of the modern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de la ré
Derived from the king or royal authority.
This name
DeréeA topographic or status-based surname indicating someone associated with the royal household or estate.
also spelled
Ree
Rees
Re
de Ray
Related arms
Rèvariant spelling
Reesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
