A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Emanuel family of France.
Reg. 5674 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. au lion d'or, cour. du même, tenant de ses pattes une bannière d'arg. ch. d'une croix de gu., flottant à sen., acc. des mots: SIGNIFER VIS ET CLEMENTIA, rangés en orle; à la bord. comp. de seize pièces d'arg. et de gu., chaque compon d'arg. ch. d'un lion de gu., et chaque compon de gu., ch. d'une main ailée d'or, tenant une épée d'arg. en pal.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Emanuel Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Emanuel arms are recorded
The Emanuel 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 Emanuel 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 Emanuel Family in France
The name Emanuel traces its roots to the ancient Hebrew name Immanuel, which translates to "God is with us." Over many centuries, this name spread across Europe through religious texts and cultural exchange, eventually becoming a common given name and later a hereditary surname. By the early 18th century, members of the family were well-established in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. During this period, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers, artisans, or merchants. The presence of the Emanuel name in regional records from 1725 suggests that the family was integrated into the local social fabric of the province, likely participating in the traditional customs and economic life of the Breton people during the reign of King Louis XV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Immanuel
Hebrew phrase meaning God is with us.
This name
EmanuelA French surname derived from the biblical name signifying divine presence.
also spelled
Emanuele
Emanuel
Emmanuel
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 de Bretagne
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
