A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Emmanuel family of France.
Reg. 6983 · 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 Emmanuel Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Emmanuel arms are recorded
The Emmanuel 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 Emmanuel 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 Emmanuel Family in France
The family name Emmanuel finds its roots in the deep cultural and linguistic traditions of the Brittany region of France. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal province. The name itself is derived from the Hebrew term meaning God is with us, which became a popular given name throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. Over time, families began to adopt these religious names as permanent surnames to distinguish themselves within their local communities. In the context of 1725 Bretagne, the Emmanuel family likely lived as part of a tight-knit rural or maritime society where names were passed down through generations to maintain a sense of lineage. These early ancestors were part of a distinct regional identity that balanced local Breton customs with the broader influence of the French language and the Catholic Church.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Immanuel
Hebrew phrase meaning God is with us
This name
EmmanuelA French given name and surname derived from biblical origins 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 du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
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
