A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Du family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1304 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
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. de gu. et d'or. C.: deux prob., coupées alt. d'or et de gu. - 2° D'arg. à une aigle sans pattes, de sa. - 3° D'arg. à trois oiseaux au nat. C.: un oiseau au nat., les ailes étendues. - 4° (An., 30 déc. 1641.) D'azur à trois colombes d'arg. C.: une colombe d'arg. - 5° D'arg. à un oiseau perché sur un tronc d'arbre d'or, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de gu. C.: l'oiseau perché sur les créneaux d'une tour sans porte ni fenêtres de gu.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Du Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Du arms are recorded
The Du arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Du arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Du Family in Denmark
The family name Du first appears in the historical record of Sjælland in 1722, marking the beginning of a distinct lineage within the Danish landscape. During this period, the name was likely influenced by the social shifts occurring in rural Denmark, where families were beginning to be identified by more fixed surnames rather than just patronymics. Because the name is short and phonetically unique, it suggests a possible connection to foreign influence or a specific occupational nickname that took root in the local community. Life for the family in early eighteenth-century Sjælland centered on the agricultural rhythms of the region, where they likely participated in the manorial system that defined the lives of most citizens at the time. By establishing themselves in this specific region, the early members of the Du family became part of the long-term demographic fabric of the island, surviving through generations of economic change and shifting land laws.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un tronc d'arbre de sa., poussant de chaque côté une feuille de sin. et posé sur une terrasse de même. C.: trois plumes de paon au nat., entre deux chicots de sa., poussant chacun à l'ext. une feuille de sin.”
LivoniaLivonia, c. 1772
Where the Du Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Du arms are recorded
The Du arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1772.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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.
Region
Livonia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Du Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Denmark when the Du arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Livonia.
Origin & History of the Du Family in Poland
The family name Du appears in the historical records of Livonia by 1772, a region that was deeply connected to the political and cultural landscape of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. During this era, Livonia served as a crossroads for Baltic, German, and Polish influences, creating a unique environment for families to settle and establish their roots. The name itself suggests a connection to the French linguistic tradition, which was frequently adopted by the educated elite and nobility across Eastern Europe during the eighteenth century as a sign of prestige and refinement. As the borders of the Commonwealth shifted and the partitions of Poland reshaped the map, families like the Du clan navigated the complex transition from local administrative control to the influence of the Russian Empire. Their presence in the region reflects the movement of people who sought opportunities in the diverse frontier lands of the north, where they integrated into the local social hierarchy while maintaining their distinct family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Duv
Old Norse term referring to a dove or a pigeon.
This name
DuA topographic or habitational name likely denoting someone who lived near a dove habitat.
also spelled
Duet
Duée
Du
Doo
Dewe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rigsarkivet, Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Zealand)
Rigsarkivet, Folketællinger og Mandtaller (Census and population counts)
Karker, Allan, Dansk Navneskik, 1993
Nielsen, Oluf, Kjøbenhavns Diplomatarium, 1872
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
