A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duchene family of France.
Reg. 3691 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
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)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'un croiss. du champ et acc. de trois fers de flèche du sec., 1 en chef et 2 en p.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Duchene Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Duchene arms are recorded
The Duchene 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 Duchene 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 Duchene Family in France
The surname Duchene originates from the French language and functions as a topographic name. It is derived from the phrase du chêne, which translates to of the oak tree. In early French society, this name was typically given to families who lived near a prominent oak tree or within a forest dominated by oaks. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the Duchene family were firmly established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, families in rural France often identified themselves by the natural landmarks surrounding their homes. This practice helped neighbors distinguish between different households in small villages. As the family grew and moved throughout the province, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral connection to the landscape of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
du chêne
Derived from the Old French word for an oak tree.
This name
DucheneA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent oak tree.
also spelled
Ducheneau
Cheneau
Duchene
Doo-shenoparee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
