A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fénelon family of France.
Reg. 0068 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 au lion d'or, acc. de treize bes. du même, rangés en orle.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Fénelon Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Fénelon arms are recorded
The Fénelon arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Fénelon 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Fénelon Family in France
The Fénelon family name originates from the historic province of Guyenne in southwestern France. By the year 1663, the family was well established in this region, where they were recognized as members of the minor nobility. The name itself is closely tied to the landscape of the Périgord area, specifically linked to the Château de Fénelon located near Sainte-Mondane. This fortress served as the ancestral seat of the family for generations and helped define their social standing within the local community. As landowners in this fertile part of France, the family played an active role in regional administration and provincial life during the seventeenth century. Their influence grew alongside the political shifts of the era, eventually leading to their prominence in both religious and literary circles of the French court.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fenouil
A Mediterranean plant known as fennel.
This name
FénelonA topographic name for someone who lived in a field of fennel.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Crouslé, Léon. Fénelon et Bossuet. 1894
Janet, Paul. Fénelon. 1892
Archives départementales de la Dordogne, Fonds de la famille de Salignac de Fénelon
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
