A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Domène family of France.
Reg. 7843 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vairProtection, and the winter fur
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De vair; au chef de gu., ch. d'un lion iss. d'or.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Domène Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Domène arms are recorded
The Domène arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Domène 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Domène Family in France
The family name Domène originates from the historical region of Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this mountainous area near the Alps. The name itself is likely a topographic surname, which means it was derived from the specific landscape where the family lived. In the local dialect and old French, the term often referred to a place belonging to a lord or a church, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or tenants who worked on land owned by a nearby estate. Over time, as families became more settled and communities grew, this location-based name became a permanent way to identify the family line across generations. Because the region of Dauphiné was a crossroads for trade and travel, the family remained deeply connected to the local culture and rural traditions of the French countryside for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dominicus
Latin for belonging to the Lord or of the Lord.
This name
DomèneA Catalan and Occitan variant referring to someone born on Sunday or dedicated to God.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux de la province du Dauphiné, 1663
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
