A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dol family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“de gu. et d'herm. (Dinan). - Armes mod.: Ec. d'arg. et de gu. [V. Soligné de Dol.]”
The Dol 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.
Reigning in France when the Dol 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 Dol is deeply rooted in the history of the Brittany region of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this coastal territory. The name itself is likely a topographic surname, which means it was derived from the specific landscape or a prominent settlement where the family lived. In the Breton language and local history, the name is closely linked to the ancient town of Dol-de-Bretagne. This town served as a significant religious and cultural center during the Middle Ages. Families residing in or near this location often adopted the name to signify their connection to the area. Over many generations, the name became a permanent identifier for families who built their lives and livelihoods within the unique cultural landscape of northwestern France.
Latin term meaning a trick, deceit, or fraudulent intent.
