A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fornell family of France.
Reg. 1488 · 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
Where the Fornell Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fornell arms are recorded
The Fornell 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 Fornell 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 Fornell Family in France
The family name Fornell finds its roots in the historic region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from the Old French word for a furnace or an oven. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name may have been local artisans, such as bakers or metalworkers, who operated a communal or private kiln. During the seventeenth century, life in Bretagne was defined by a strong connection to the land and a distinct regional identity that remained separate from the rest of France. Families like the Fornells were often deeply integrated into the rural economy of their parishes, where they lived as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Over time, as these individuals moved between villages and towns, the name became a permanent marker of their lineage and their contribution to the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Furnus
Latin term for an oven or a kiln.
This name
FornellAn occupational name for a baker or someone who worked at an oven.
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 de Bretagne, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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
