A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fornal family of France.
Reg. 0299 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
axeThe execution of military duty
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 la croix pommetée d'or, cant. de vingt bill. du même et surm. de deux vols d'or: au chef de gu., ch. d'une aigle d'or à dextre, et une étoile du même à sen.”
Francec. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Fornal arms are recorded
The Fornal arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fornal 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 Fornal Family in France
The surname Fornal traces its roots to the historical region of Brittany in northwestern France, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1663. The name is linguistically linked to the Old French word *fornel*, which referred to a small oven or a furnace. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name likely worked as bakers or blacksmiths, as these trades were essential to the daily life of a medieval village. By identifying individuals through their specific craft, the name became a permanent marker of their social role and economic contribution to the community. Over time, as families settled into specific parishes in Brittany, the name was passed down through generations, evolving from a simple occupational description into a formal family identity that persisted across centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fornarius
Latin term referring to a person who works with an oven
This name
FornalAn occupational surname for a baker or someone who operated a furnace
also spelled
Fornell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
axeThe execution of military duty
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
cross symbolChristian faith and service
axeThe execution of military duty
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
