A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Double family of France.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sa. à la bande d'or.”
The Double arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Double 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 surname Double has deep roots in the historical region of Île-de-France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area served as the vibrant heart of the French kingdom, surrounding the capital city of Paris. Families living in this region often derived their names from descriptive traits, occupations, or local landmarks. The name Double likely originated as a nickname, perhaps referring to a person’s physical stature or a specific characteristic that distinguished them within their local community. As these families grew and moved through the towns and rural parishes of the French countryside, they became part of the complex social fabric that defined life under the Old Regime. By settling in this central province, the early members of the Double family participated in the regional economy and local traditions that helped shape the history of the French people.
Latin term meaning twofold or double.
