A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Desgranges family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4963 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
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 trois épis d'or, acc. en chef d'un soleil du même.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Desgranges Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Desgranges arms are recorded
The Desgranges arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Desgranges 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Desgranges Family in France
The surname Desgranges is a topographical name that originated in France, specifically identifying families who lived near or managed a "grange," which was a large agricultural building used to store grain or house farm equipment. By the mid-seventeenth century, the name was firmly established in the Lyonnais region, a historic province centered around the city of Lyon. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the family were active in this area during a time when the region was a vital hub for trade, silk production, and religious life. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the rural economy and the social structures of the French countryside. The name reflects a history rooted in the land, marking the family as part of the essential agricultural workforce that sustained the local communities of eastern France during the early modern period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à trois roses d'arg. S.: deux lions reg., au nat.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Desgranges Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Desgranges arms are recorded
The Desgranges arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Desgranges Family in Switzerland
The name Desgranges is a topographical surname that originated in the French-speaking regions of Europe, derived from the Old French word *grange*, which referred to a farm or a granary. While the name has deep roots in France, members of the family established a notable presence in the Swiss city of Bern by 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict patrician class, and families like the Desgranges often integrated into the local administrative and merchant networks. Because the name implies a connection to agricultural land management, it is likely that early ancestors were involved in the oversight of rural estates or the grain trade, which were vital to the economy of the Swiss cantons. As they settled in Bern, these individuals became part of the complex social fabric of the city, transitioning from their origins as land-focused workers to becoming established residents within the urban center of the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grange
A barn or granary used for storing grain.
This name
DesgrangesRefers to someone who lived near or worked at a farmstead or barn.
also spelled
Degrange
des Granj
Desgrange
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
