A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Deville family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une ville d'or, maçonnée de sa. D.: ET LAISSEZ DIRE.”
The Deville 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.
Reigning in France when the Deville arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Deville originates from the French language and translates literally to "of the town" or "from the city." This type of surname was historically given to individuals who moved from a rural village to an urban center, acting as a simple way to identify a person by their place of origin. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Deville family were established in the Lyonnais region of France. During this period, the area was a major hub for trade and silk production, which likely provided the family with opportunities for commerce and social growth. As the family settled into the region, they became part of the local social fabric, living through a time when France was transitioning into a centralized power under the reign of King Louis XIV. Their presence in Lyonnais suggests they were part of a mobile population that helped shape the economic life of the province during the seventeenth century.
Latin term for a country house, farm, or estate.
