A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsen family of France.
Reg. 4082 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
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 un senestrochère, arm. d'arg., la main de carn. tenant une bague d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le senestrochère, posé sur le coude, devant une pl. d'aut. d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux lions au nat.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Elsen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Elsen arms are recorded
The Elsen 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 Elsen 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 Elsen Family in France
The family name Elsen is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it likely originated as a patronymic or a descriptive surname. The name is often associated with the Germanic name Elias, evolving over centuries as families moved across borders and adapted to local dialects. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the Elsen family were established in the region of Bretagne in France. During this period, families in Bretagne were often involved in maritime trade, agriculture, or local administration, reflecting the diverse economic landscape of the province. As these early ancestors settled into the coastal communities of Western France, they helped shape the local social fabric, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the gap between their Germanic origins and their life in the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elisabeth
My God is an oath or my God is abundance.
This name
ElsenA patronymic form derived from a diminutive of the name Elizabeth.
also spelled
Oelsenn
Elsen
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
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.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
