Map of France showing where the Doan arms are recorded
The Doan arms were recorded in New-York, 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 Doan 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 Doan Family in France
The surname Doan has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. In the context of this coastal province, the name likely emerged from the local Breton language or regional dialects that were common among the rural population at the time. Families in this area were often tied to the land or the sea, and surnames frequently developed from a person’s specific trade, a notable physical trait, or their home village. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of France for centuries, the Doan family name reflects the unique linguistic traditions of the region. By the eighteenth century, these families were firmly established within their local parishes, where they participated in the agricultural and maritime life that defined the Breton economy.
Doan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Duo
Latin term meaning two or second in sequence.
This name
DoanA topographic name for someone living near a second or secondary dwelling or settlement.
also spelled
Done
Doan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Collection de l'état civil
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Les noms de lieux bretons, 1975
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
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
