A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Douville family of France.
Reg. 2711 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 trois étoiles d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à une tour d'arg., ouv. et aj. de sa., surm. de deux guidons d'or. D.: FAC BENE NOMINARIS.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Douville Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Douville arms are recorded
The Douville 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 Douville 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 Douville Family in France
The family name Douville originates from the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this coastal province. The name itself is topographical, which means it was likely used to identify people who lived near a specific village or a small settlement. In the French language, the prefix "dou" often relates to a valley or a gentle landscape, suggesting that the first people to carry this name lived in a quiet, rural area. During the 1720s, families in this part of France were often deeply connected to the land and local parish life. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Breton countryside, contributing to the local traditions and agricultural history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de villa
Latin phrase meaning from the farmstead or country estate.
This name
DouvilleA topographic surname denoting someone who lived in or near a village or rural settlement.
also spelled
Douville
Maillefeu
Dooveel de Mayfuh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
