A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dunstanville family of France.
Reg. 2531 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“De gu. à deux léopards d'or, l'un sur l'autre; au filet en barre d'azur, br. sur le tout.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Dunstanville Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Dunstanville arms are recorded
The Dunstanville 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 Dunstanville 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 Dunstanville Family in France
The surname Dunstanville originates from the historical region of Brittany in northwestern France. By the early eighteenth century, the family was well-established within this coastal territory, which was known for its unique cultural traditions and strong ties to the sea. The name itself suggests a connection to a specific location or estate, as was common for families of that era who identified themselves by their ancestral lands. During the 1700s, members of the family lived through a period of significant social and economic change in France, navigating the complexities of life in a province that maintained a distinct identity from the rest of the kingdom. While the family remained rooted in Brittany, their presence in local records from 1725 highlights their integration into the regional community during the twilight of the French monarchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dun
A hill or fortified settlement of Celtic origin.
This name
DunstanvilleDerived from a location in France meaning a fortified hill town or settlement.
also spelled
Dunstanvil
Dunstanville
Dunstanvile
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Poterie, Jean, La vie quotidienne en Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1974
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
