A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dinan family of France.
Reg. 3493 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ermineDignity and rank
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 gu. à la croix ancrée d'arg., ch. de cinq mouch. d'herm. de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Dinan Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dinan arms are recorded
The Dinan arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Dinan 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Dinan Family in France
The family name Dinan originates from the historic region of Brittany in northwestern France. The name is linked to the town of Dinan, which served as a significant center of trade and military defense during the medieval period. Families who took this name often identified with the local geography or held ties to the prominent lordship established there in the eleventh century. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Dinan family were well-established residents within the Breton social structure. During this era, the family likely participated in the agricultural and maritime activities that defined life in the region. Their presence in Brittany during the seventeenth century suggests a long-standing connection to the local community and the complex history of the French province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Din
A Celtic or Breton term referring to a fortified hill or fortress.
This name
DinanDerived from the town of Dinan in Brittany, signifying a person from the fortified place.
also spelled
Dinane
Dinann
Dynan
Dinen
Related arms
Dynantvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Chédeville, André. Dinan au Moyen Âge. 1986
Jones, Michael. The Creation of Brittany: A Late Medieval State. 1988
Archives départementales des Côtes-d'Armor, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles, notaires et corporations
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ermineDignity and rank
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ermineDignity and rank
