A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erel family of France.
Reg. 2040 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un arbre de sin., accosté de deux sauvages affr. de carn., le tout soutenu d'une terrasse du sec.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1716
Where the Erel Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Erel arms are recorded
The Erel arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1716.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Erel 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 Erel Family in France
The family name Erel has deep roots in the historical region of Lorraine, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1716. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families in this area often navigated complex social changes as the region transitioned toward French rule throughout the eighteenth century. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the diverse mix of Germanic and Romance influences common to the people of the Moselle and Meurthe valleys. By establishing themselves in this borderland, early generations of the Erel family participated in the agricultural and craft-based economy that defined life in rural Lorraine before the onset of the French Revolution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aerel
Derived from the Old French word for eagle.
This name
ErelA surname indicating a person with the characteristics or qualities of an eagle.
also spelled
Eirel
Erel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1716
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine au XVIIIe siècle, 1984
Les Archives nationales, Inventaire sommaire des archives départementales antérieures à 1790, 1891
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
knightChivalry and service in arms
