A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dewald family of France.
Reg. 7588 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., bq. et m. du champ, surm. d'une couronne impériale; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au lion d'or, cour. du même, supp. de ses pattes une flèche d'arg., en pal; le lion du 3 cont. Sur le tout un écusson de gu., cour. d'or et ch. d'un senestrochère, arm. et gantelé au nat., tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1o le lion du 3; 2o les meubles du 1; 3o le lion du 2. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dewald Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dewald arms are recorded
The Dewald arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Dewald 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 Dewald Family in France
The family name Dewald is rooted in Germanic origins, where it is derived from the elements "wald," meaning rule or power, and "de," which often functions as a prefix indicating strength or origin. While the name is strongly associated with German-speaking regions, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this period, the movement of families across European borders was often driven by shifting political boundaries, trade opportunities, or the migration of skilled laborers seeking new lands. By settling in Bretagne, the Dewald family integrated into a distinct cultural landscape that was quite different from their ancestral German roots. This transition highlights the adaptability of the family as they navigated the social and linguistic changes required to thrive in eighteenth-century France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wald
Germanic element meaning rule or power.
This name
DewaldDerived from a Germanic personal name meaning powerful ruler or mighty governor.
also spelled
Dewalt
Diewald
Deuwald
Dwald
Related arms
Verdugosimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 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.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
