A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fontenelle family of France.
Reg. 4775 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un croiss. d'arg., cant. de quatre étoiles d'or et surm. d'une cinquieme étoile du même.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Fontenelle Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Fontenelle arms are recorded
The Fontenelle arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Fontenelle 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Fontenelle Family in France
The name Fontenelle is a classic example of a locative surname, which means it was originally derived from the specific place where a family lived. The name comes from the Old French words "fontaine," meaning a spring or fountain, and the suffix "elle," which acts as a diminutive to suggest a small spring. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Fontenelle family were well-established in the Poitou region of western France. During this period, families in Poitou were often tied to the land through agriculture or local administrative roles in the rural countryside. Because the name describes a natural feature like a small spring, it is likely that the first people to use it lived near a distinct water source on their property. Over time, as the family grew and moved, the name traveled with them, marking their origins in the historic landscape of Poitou.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fontana
Latin term for a natural spring or fountain of water.
This name
FontenelleRefers to someone who lived near a small spring or fountain.
also spelled
Fontenell
Fontenel
Fontenellee
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
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.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
