A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ellen family of France.
Reg. 6841 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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.; b. d'azur à un gland d'or. C.: une fleur-de-lis de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Ellen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Ellen arms are recorded
The Ellen arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Ellen 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 Ellen Family in France
The family name Ellen finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1663. The name likely evolved from regional naming traditions that favored short, melodic sounds common to the linguistic heritage of the Armorican peninsula. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trades, which shaped their daily lives and social standing. As the family established itself in local parishes, the name became a permanent marker of their identity within the community. Over time, the spelling remained consistent as it was recorded in local church registers and civil documents, reflecting a sense of continuity that has linked the family to this specific region for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Helene
Derived from the Greek word for torch or shining light.
This name
EllenA French variant of the Greek name meaning bright, shining light.
also spelled
Ellenn
Related arms
Elenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
