A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Donner family of France.
Reg. 7026 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. à un foudre d'or, en barre, iss. du canton sen. du chef; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un lévrier assis d'arg. Sur le tout un écusson de sa., bordé d'or et ch. d'un foudre d'or, en pal. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de sa. entre deux de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu. D.: FIDELITAS.”
FranceAltona, c. 1725
Where the Donner Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Donner arms are recorded
The Donner arms were recorded in Altona, 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 Donner 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 Donner Family in France
The surname Donner carries a rich history that likely stems from ancient Germanic roots, where it was often associated with the name of the thunder god, Thor. While the name is frequently found in Northern Europe, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local trade or agricultural life within the coastal communities of western France. As people moved across borders for work or marriage, the name adapted to the local language while keeping its distinctive sound. By the early 18th century, the Donner family had become a part of the social fabric of Bretagne, living through a time of significant cultural and political change in the French provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
tonare
Latin verb meaning to thunder or to roar.
This name
DonnerAn occupational or descriptive nickname for a loud person or someone associated with thunder.
also spelled
Doner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fireZeal and purification
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fireZeal and purification
