A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dorsen family of France.
Reg. 0442 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 d'azur à une tour d'arg., ouv. et maçonnée de sa., acc. à sen. d'un lion d'or, ramp. contre la tour; au 2 de gu. à trois étoiles d'or; au 3 d'or à trois pommes de grenade de gu., tigées et feuillées du même, la queue en bas.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dorsen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dorsen arms are recorded
The Dorsen arms were recorded in France, 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 Dorsen 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 Dorsen Family in France
The family name Dorsen finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, this region was a distinct cultural area with its own language and traditions that differed significantly from the rest of the country. Families living in Bretagne at this time were often deeply connected to the land, working in agriculture or maritime trades along the rocky coastline. The name likely evolved from local dialects or geographic descriptions common to the Breton people, serving as a way to identify individuals within their tight-knit rural communities. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the 1700s, they helped establish the foundation for the family name that would eventually spread beyond their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Orson
Derived from the French word for bear or golden one.
This name
DorsenRefers to a person from the town of Orson or one with bear-like characteristics.
also spelled
Dorsene
Dorsen
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, 1725
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Goff, Hervé, Les noms de famille bretons, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
