A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ele family of France.
Reg. 7451 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au chev. d'arg.; à la bord. du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1597
Where the Ele Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Ele arms are recorded
The Ele arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1597.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Ele 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Ele Family in France
The family name Ele traces its roots back to the historic region of Lorraine in northeastern France. By the year 1597, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this territory. During this period, Lorraine served as a cultural crossroads between the French and German worlds, which often influenced the spelling and pronunciation of local surnames. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames common to the area during the late sixteenth century. Families in this part of Europe were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade, and the Ele family would have been part of the small communities that navigated the complex political shifts of the Holy Roman Empire. Their presence in Lorraine during this time suggests they were well-integrated into the local social fabric long before the region became a permanent part of the French state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Helias
The Greek name for the sun or a variant of Elijah.
This name
EleA French surname derived from a shortened form of Elias, meaning the Lord is my God.
also spelled
Eley
Ele
Elay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B (Cour souveraine de Lorraine et Barrois)
Bastien, Henri, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1970
Lepage, Henri, Les archives de la Lorraine, 1875
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
