A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Desportes family of France.
Reg. 7384 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
dieFortune met with a steady hand
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une porte de ville ouv. d'arg., maçonnée de gu. et soutenue de trois dés d'arg., marqués de sa., rangés en p.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Desportes Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Desportes arms are recorded
The Desportes 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 Desportes 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 Desportes Family in France
The family name Desportes originated in France as a descriptive surname, likely referring to someone who lived near a gate or a harbor. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the Lyonnais region. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the family were active in this area, which was a major hub for trade and silk production at the time. Families in this part of France often moved between rural villages and the growing urban center of Lyon to take advantage of new economic opportunities. This migration pattern suggests that the early Desportes family members were likely involved in the local merchant class or skilled crafts that defined the region during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
deportare
Latin verb meaning to carry away or to transport.
This name
DesportesRefers to a person who lived near a place of exile or a transport hub.
also spelled
Deportes
day Port
Desport
Deport
Related arms
de Portesvariant spelling
Portes (des) d'Amblérieuvariant spelling
Portes (des) de St.-Pèrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives municipales de Lyon, Série GG: État civil et registres paroissiaux
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Mée, René, Démographie et sociétés dans le Lyonnais aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, 1984
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
dieFortune met with a steady hand
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
dieFortune met with a steady hand
