A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the des Autels family of France.
Reg. 6900 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 autel d'or, surm. d'un coeur du même.”
Francec. 1663
Where the des Autels Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the des Autels arms are recorded
The des Autels 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 des Autels 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 des Autels Family in France
The family name des Autels carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of western France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the province of Bretagne by 1663. The name itself is topographical, meaning it likely originated from a family living near a specific landmark or a place known as "the altars." During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in tight-knit rural communities where their surname served as a way to identify their connection to a specific piece of land or a local parish. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Bretagne, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the province during the early modern period. This period was a time of significant transition in France, and the presence of the des Autels family in official records suggests they were settled, land-owning, or active participants in the local economy of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
altare
A raised structure or platform used for religious sacrifices or offerings.
This name
des AutelsRefers to a person who lived near or served at a church altar.
also spelled
Autel
Autels
Autell
des Otel
Related arms
Autelvariant 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, Series E
Poterie, Louis, Histoire de Bretagne, 1966
Ogée, Jean, Dictionnaire historique et géographique de la province de Bretagne, 1778
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
