A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Espinal family of France.
Reg. 3194 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'azur semé de fleurs-de-lis d'or; à la croix de gu., br. sur le tout.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Espinal Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Espinal arms are recorded
The Espinal arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Espinal 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 Espinal Family in France
The surname Espinal is rooted in the landscape of the medieval world, as it is derived from the Spanish and Old French word for a thorn bush or a place where hawthorns grow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a prominent thicket or a thorny hedge that served as a local landmark. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Lorraine region of France. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often navigated complex shifts in borders and loyalties, which likely influenced the movement and professional development of the early Espinal line. Over time, the name evolved as it traveled, reflecting the linguistic changes of the regions where the family settled while maintaining its connection to the natural environment of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
spina
Latin term meaning a thorn or a prickle.
This name
EspinalRefers to someone who lived near a place covered in thorn bushes.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
