Map of Germany showing where the Dorval arms are recorded
The Dorval arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Dorval arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Dorval Family in Germany
The family name Dorval carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of Western Europe. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Westphalia. During this era, Westphalia was a center of significant social and economic change, serving as a crossroads for trade and migration within the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often identified themselves through their connection to the land or their specific trade, which helped shape the identity of the Dorval name as it moved through the eighteenth century. As these individuals navigated the local customs and shifting political borders of the time, they helped build the foundations of the family lineage that would eventually spread across different regions and countries.
Dorval Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
d'Orval
Derived from the French place name meaning golden valley.
This name
DorvalRefers to an individual originating from a valley characterized by golden light or wealth.
also spelled
Dorvall
Dorvale
Dorvaux
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Lück, Alfred. Geschichte der Familie Dorval. 1958
Schulte, Wilhelm. Westfälische Lebensbilder. 1962
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden
Staatsarchiv Münster, Personenstandsregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
